Compare towns
Exeter vs Topsham vs Wells
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 highest household income ($110k).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k median).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | Topsham | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,706Lowest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Topsham 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. |
$91,028±$10k 13% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham 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. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wells 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. |
$1,355±$642 4% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham 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. |
$4,259 37% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wells 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Wells 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Mt Ararat High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.2Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.