Compare towns
West Bath vs Exeter vs Harpswell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
West Bath has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Harpswell has the most expensive homes ($610k 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 | West Bath | Exeter | Harpswell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,863Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,046 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.2±5.6 39% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
62±1.5Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
8.8%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 29.4%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
38.6%±4.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.8%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,333±$27k 28% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$96,250±$15kLowest 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter and West Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $422,800±$102kLowest 27% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$609,700±$60kHighest 83% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,112±$327Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,348±$53 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,516 13% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,141Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.1%±26.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.9%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and West Bath 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% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±6.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Harpswell 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | West Bath Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| 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.