Compare towns
Bristol vs Exeter vs Northport
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%).
Northport has the most affordable homes ($343k 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 | Bristol | Exeter | Northport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917 |
16,151Highest |
1,621Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 57% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
56.6±3.8 46% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Northport 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Bristol 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% |
39.2%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Northport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4%Lowest 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%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19k 25% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$73,523±$8kLowest 9% below 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±$54k 22% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$343,400±$36kLowest 3% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bristol 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. |
$1,088±$299 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,721 13% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Northport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% 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 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.2%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bristol and Exeter 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 | Northport Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| 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.