Compare towns
Washington vs Exeter vs Topsham vs Orange
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most people working from home (14.9%).
Exeter has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
Topsham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+2.2%).
Orange has the shortest commute (28 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 | Washington | Exeter | Topsham | Orange |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,056Highest |
913Lowest |
999 |
957 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-14.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
51.7±12.6 33% above U.S. |
50.1±5.9Lowest 29% above U.S. |
50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
| Washington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±7.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±10.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Washington and Orange are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$77,550±$19kHighest 4% below U.S. |
$72,308±$60k 10% below U.S. |
$71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$243,000±$89kHighest 27% below U.S. |
$222,900±$56k 33% below U.S. |
$222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285 30% below U.S. |
$867±$44Lowest 39% below U.S. |
$908±$398 36% below U.S. |
$1,330±$153Highest 6% below U.S. |
| Orange and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$2,926Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$4,006Highest 28% above U.S. |
$3,545 14% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
91.9%±28.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Topsham and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
18.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Washington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| School district | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | — | Waits River Union High District #36 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.