Compare towns
Exeter vs Gorham vs Westbrook
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 the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Gorham has the most homeowners (81.5%).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Gorham | Westbrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
18,300 |
20,775Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Gorham and Westbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Westbrook 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. |
$112,312±$6kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19kLowest 15% above U.S. |
| Gorham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,392±$74Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Gorham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Westbrook 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Gorham 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #115 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Gorham Public Schools | Westbrook Public Schools |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Gorham High School | Westbrook High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.9Highest |
12.0Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.