Compare towns
Topsham vs Exeter vs Woolwich
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Topsham has the most kids (19.9% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Woolwich has the most affordable homes ($255k 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.
| Measure | Topsham | Exeter | Woolwich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,706 |
16,151Highest |
3,158Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.8±5.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
15%±5.5Lowest 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%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.9%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Woolwich and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$102,175±$26k 27% above 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 | $360,800±$20k 8% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$254,500±$59kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above 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 | $4,259 37% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,433Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Woolwich and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.9%±6.2Lowest 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 | #66 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #92 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 75/MSAD 75 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 01 - LKRSU |
| High school in town | Mt Ararat High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.