Compare towns
Exeter vs Bath vs Saco vs Newfields
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%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Bath | Saco | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
8,815 |
20,819Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$92,241±$11k 14% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #31 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Saco Public Schools | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Morse High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | 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.