Compare towns
Exeter vs Readfield vs Wayne
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%).
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
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 | Readfield | Wayne |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,651 |
1,101Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield 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% |
18.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Readfield 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% |
22.3%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne 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±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wayne 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. |
$326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$983±$554Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Readfield 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. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
$3,289Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 38 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
— |
| 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.