Compare towns
Exeter vs Woolwich vs Ellsworth
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).
Woolwich has the most homeowners (95.5%).
Ellsworth has the most kids (18.4% 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 | Woolwich | Ellsworth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,158Lowest |
8,657 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ellsworth 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% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woolwich 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% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ellsworth 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. |
$102,175±$26k 27% above U.S. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Woolwich 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. |
$254,500±$59k 24% below U.S. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$3,262 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Ellsworth 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% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Woolwich 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 | #92 of 133 in ME | #63 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Ellsworth Public Schools |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Ellsworth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.7Highest |
| 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.


