Compare towns
Winthrop vs Exeter vs Wayne vs Sidney
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 affordable homes ($295k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Sidney has the youngest population (median age 43).
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 | Winthrop | Exeter | Wayne | Sidney |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,191 |
16,151Highest |
1,101Lowest |
4,790 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.6±5.3 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.6±5.3Highest 43% above U.S. |
43±5.5Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 22.9%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.4%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Winthrop 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.2%±3.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±3.6Lowest 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+ | 40% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
33.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.5%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $86,470±$4k 7% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$93,194±$26k 15% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% 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 | $294,800±$41kLowest 11% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$362,800±$29k 9% above U.S. |
$336,200±$34k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $892±$319Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$983±$554 30% below U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Sidney 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. |
$3,289 5% above U.S. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.8%±22.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25%±52.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% 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% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.2%±11.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wayne 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 | — | #15 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Winthrop Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 38 | RSU 18 |
| High school in town | Winthrop High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| 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.