Compare towns
Bremen vs Exeter vs Wayne vs Damariscotta
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bremen has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wayne has the most people working from home (26.2%).
Damariscotta has the most kids (19.4% under 18).
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 | Bremen | Exeter | Wayne | Damariscotta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 917Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,101 |
2,192 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.1±8.2 34% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
49.3±8.6 27% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Damariscotta and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 34.1%±9.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.2%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bremen and Damariscotta are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,000±$21k 24% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$59,423±$11kLowest 26% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $425,300±$28k 28% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$363,500±$42k 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bremen 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. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,027±$88 27% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,829Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,289 5% above U.S. |
$3,806 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
68.2%±22.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Damariscotta and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
70% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
23 min 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.2%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Bremen 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 38 | Great Salt Bay CSD |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.