Compare towns
Exeter vs Wilder vs Topsham
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 most expensive homes ($457k median).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 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 | Wilder | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,087Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilder 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% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Exeter 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% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder 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% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$91,028±$10k 13% 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±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,355±$642 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. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Topsham 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Topsham 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 |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| 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.