Compare towns
Wayne vs Exeter vs Leeds vs Readfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Leeds has the most kids (30.6% under 18).
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 | Wayne | Exeter | Leeds | Readfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,101Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,285 |
2,651 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
0% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
38.2±8.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
48.1±7.6 24% above U.S. |
| Wayne and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
30.6%±9.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Leeds and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
23%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.5%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Leeds and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$85,208±$14kLowest 6% above U.S. |
$86,504±$8k 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wayne are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$257,800±$27kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$326,400±$20k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$940±$461Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,289 5% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,565Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$3,392 9% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25%±52.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
27.1%±11.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
19.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 15% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
30 min 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.3%±14.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne and Readfield 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 | — | #20 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 38 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 52/MSAD 52 | RSU 38 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Maranacook Community High Sch |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.