Compare towns
Harpswell vs Exeter vs West Bath
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Harpswell | Exeter | West Bath |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,046 |
16,151Highest |
1,863Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,516 13% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harpswell and Exeter 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | West Bath Public Schools |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.