Compare towns
Wilder vs Wells vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Wells has the most homeowners (90.1%).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Wilder | Wells | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,087Lowest |
11,713 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.5±8.9Lowest 17% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.3%±4.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$88,024±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,350±$297 4% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,505 76% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.6%±6.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Wells 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 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | — | Wells High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.