Compare towns
Barnstead vs Exeter vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Barnstead | Exeter | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Barnstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 92% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and South Berwick 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.