Compare towns
Berwick vs Bow vs Exeter vs Standish
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k 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 | Bow | Exeter | Standish |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175Lowest |
8,335 |
16,151Highest |
10,662 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
41.5±2 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4 U.S.: 22% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bow and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$172,857±$16kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$506,500±$34kHighest 52% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Bow and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,539±$178 9% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,436 42% above U.S. |
$9,584Highest 207% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
39%±13.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Bow and 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #26 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #18 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | Bow High School | Exeter High School | Bonny Eagle High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
12.5 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.