Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Winterport
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the most kids (19.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Winterport has the most affordable homes ($283k 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 | Durham | Exeter | Winterport |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,262 |
16,151Highest |
3,850Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.9 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.3±5.5Lowest 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.7%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Durham and Winterport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Winterport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Winterport and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,181±$5k 23% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$98,333±$21kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,200±$34k 3% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$283,000±$43kLowest 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,781 21% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,646Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±40.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
26.8%±25.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Winterport are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.4%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Durham 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 | #14 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #53 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 05 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 22 |
| 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.