Compare towns
Buxton vs Exeter vs Standish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
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 | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,512Lowest |
16,151Highest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±3.9 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Standish 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% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest 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% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,144±$21kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $356,800±$21k 7% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,613±$266 14% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% 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. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.9%±26.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Standish 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest 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. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 30% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Standish 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 | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
| 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.