Compare towns
Exeter vs Ashland vs Bradford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Maine.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most people working from home (10.3%).
Ashland has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bradford has the most kids (18.9% 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 | Exeter | Ashland | Bradford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093 |
1,080Lowest |
1,254Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest ME: +2.6% |
-7.7%Highest ME: +2.6% |
-8.2% ME: +2.6% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7 17% above ME |
53.4±9.1Highest 19% above ME |
49.7±8Lowest 11% above ME |
| Ashland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest ME: 18.1% |
14.3%±3.8 ME: 18.1% |
18.9%±5.9Highest ME: 18.1% |
| Bradford and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4 ME: 22.4% |
32.2%±8Highest ME: 22.4% |
21.5%±1.9Lowest ME: 22.4% |
| Ashland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15% ME: 36.2% |
13.8%Lowest ME: 36.2% |
19%Highest ME: 36.2% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1 ME: 5.8% |
4.3%±2.3Highest ME: 5.8% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest ME: 5.8% |
| Ashland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12kHighest 13% above ME |
$46,838±$15kLowest 37% below ME |
$82,955±$26k 11% above ME |
| Exeter and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39k 44% below ME |
$125,000±$49kLowest 58% below ME |
$176,200±$15kHighest 41% below ME |
| Bradford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Highest 13% below ME |
— | $742±$392Lowest 35% below ME |
| Exeter and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602 47% below ME |
$1,511Lowest 50% below ME |
$2,315Highest 24% below ME |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8 ME: 48.4% |
25.7%±27.5Lowest ME: 48.4% |
87.5%±100Highest ME: 48.4% |
| Bradford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Lowest ME: 10.7% |
23.6%Highest ME: 10.7% |
9% ME: 10.7% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest ME: 74.3% |
66.1%Lowest ME: 74.3% |
86.8% ME: 74.3% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 14 yrs newer than ME |
1973Lowest 4 yrs older than ME |
1985 8 yrs newer than ME |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 43% above ME |
21 minLowest 14% below ME |
39 minHighest 57% above ME |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Highest ME: 15.9% |
4.7%±2.7Lowest ME: 15.9% |
8.7%±3.5 ME: 15.9% |
| Exeter and Bradford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
ME 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.