Compare towns
Buxton vs Exeter vs New Gloucester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Buxton has the most affordable homes ($357k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% 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 | Buxton | Exeter | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512 |
16,151Highest |
5,766Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Exeter and New Gloucester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29k 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,422 10% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Buxton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and New Gloucester 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 | #104 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| 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.