Compare towns
Berwick vs Exeter vs Berwick vs Rochester
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 most homeowners (87.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Berwick has the oldest housing (typical home built 1969).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Berwick | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
16,151 |
1,998Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
43±1.8 11% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.2%±1.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.3%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,771±$24k 17% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39k about the U.S. average |
$80,836±$3kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36k about the U.S. average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,369±$72 3% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Berwick 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. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$5,334 71% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
66%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick 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 | #101 of 133 in ME | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.