What stands out worked out from the figures below

Winthrop has the most affordable homes ($295k median).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Winthrop	Exeter
People
Population	6,191Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+0.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	43.6±5.3Lowest 12% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	22.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Winthrop and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.4%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.5%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$86,470±$4kLowest 7% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$294,800±$41kLowest 11% below U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$892±$319Lowest 37% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,506Lowest 12% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	50.8%±22.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S.	1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	35 minHighest 31% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	23.1%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Winthrop 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	#12 of 133 in ME	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Winthrop Public Schools	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Winthrop High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.7Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.