Compare towns
Naples vs Wells vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Naples has the most people working from home (26.7%).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Naples | Wells | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,985Lowest |
11,713 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.8±6.8 28% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Wells and Naples are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,188±$13kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,100±$48kLowest about the U.S. average |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% 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 | $1,941±$625Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Naples and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,784Lowest 11% below U.S. |
$3,215 3% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59.9%±40.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Naples and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.7%±11.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Naples 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 | #118 of 133 in ME | #22 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 61/MSAD 61 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Lake Region High School | Wells High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7 |
11.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.