Compare towns
Bristol vs Exeter vs Woolwich
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%).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k 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 | Woolwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,917Lowest |
16,151Highest |
3,158 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 61±3.2Highest 57% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5 43% above U.S. |
| Bristol and Woolwich 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% |
15%±5.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Woolwich 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% |
33.9%±8.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bristol and Woolwich 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% |
52.9% 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% |
2.4%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Woolwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,750±$19kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$102,175±$26k 27% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Woolwich 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. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below 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. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,668 14% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.4%±19.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 33% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 25%±8.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest 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 | #92 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Bristol Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| 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.