Compare towns

Winthrop vs Exeter 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

Winthrop has the most kids (22.9% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).

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.

MeasureWinthropExeterReadfield
People
Population
6,191
16,151Highest
2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.6±5.3Lowest
12% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
48.1±7.6Highest
24% above U.S.
Readfield and Exeter 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%
18.7%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
Winthrop and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.4%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.3%±4.5Lowest
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%
48.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2.4
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.3%±2Lowest
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.
$86,504±$8k
7% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$294,800±$41kLowest
11% below U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$326,400±$20k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$892±$319Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above 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
$3,506
12% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$3,392Lowest
9% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±22.4
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
31.3%±100Lowest
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%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr 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.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
23.1%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.3%±14.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Readfield and Winthrop 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 #20 of 133 in ME
School district Winthrop Public Schools Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 38
High school in town Winthrop High School Exeter High School Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7
12.1Highest
11.5Lowest
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.