Compare towns
Berwick vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berwick has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
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 | Berwick | Exeter | Stratham | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,998 |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,041±$901 26% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,806 22% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.