Compare towns
Bristol vs Exeter vs Bremen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bristol has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bremen has the most kids (18.6% 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 | Bristol | Exeter | Bremen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917 |
16,151Highest |
917Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 57% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
52.1±8.2 34% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Bremen and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 42.8%±8.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.1%±9.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Bremen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$100,000±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $406,400±$54kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$425,300±$28k 28% 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 | $1,051±$106Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,829 9% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
22 min 19% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±6.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol 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 | #16 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.