Compare towns
Bowdoinham vs Exeter vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bowdoinham has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bowdoinham | Exeter | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,142 |
16,151Highest |
2,651Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±13.1Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| Bowdoinham and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±6.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Readfield and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.4%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $108,479±$21k 34% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $405,500±$105k 22% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,958Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 100%±19.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 13.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22%±11.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Bowdoinham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #73 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.