Compare towns
Exeter vs Mapleton vs Bowdoin
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Bowdoin has the most homeowners (84.7%).
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 | Mapleton | Bowdoin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,884Lowest |
3,188 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.3±10 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bowdoin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Bowdoin 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$91,239±$13kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$292,800±$71k 12% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$3,375 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±42.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.7%±7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Bowdoin 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 | — | #28 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.