Compare towns

Phippsburg vs Exeter vs 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

Phippsburg has the oldest population (median age 54.3).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).

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.

MeasurePhippsburgExeterBath
People
Population
2,238Lowest
16,151Highest
8,815
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-2.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
54.3±6.3Highest
40% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
45.4±3Lowest
17% above U.S.
Phippsburg and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
11.5%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
34.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
25.2%±4.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.7%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.3%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.5%±2
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$107,833±$19k
34% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$69,390±$12kLowest
14% below U.S.
Exeter and Phippsburg are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$335,800±$47k
about the U.S. average
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$310,900±$30kLowest
7% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,022±$346Lowest
28% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,044±$116
26% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,034Lowest
35% below U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$3,847
23% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
35.5%±98.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
51.3%±15.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
81.8%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
64.3%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1938Lowest
42 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
21 minLowest
19% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
24 min
9% below U.S.
Work from home
11.7%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.3%±6
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Bath 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 #31 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 01 - LKRSU Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 01 - LKRSU
High school in town None in town Exeter High School Morse High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Lowest
14.8Highest
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.