Compare towns

Berwick vs Exeter vs Lyndeborough 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

Berwick has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Lyndeborough has the oldest population (median age 50).
Sidney 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.

MeasureBerwickExeterLyndeboroughSidney
People
Population
8,175
16,151Highest
1,616Lowest
4,790
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
50±3.2Highest
29% above U.S.
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
Lyndeborough and Exeter 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%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
14.9%±5.3Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.2%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.6%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Lyndeborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
40.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.5%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%
3.7%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Berwick 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±$13k
37% above U.S.
$116,964±$17kHighest
45% above U.S.
$83,488±$10kLowest
3% above U.S.
Lyndeborough and Exeter 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.
$390,900±$26k
17% above U.S.
$336,200±$34kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,482±$457
5% above U.S.
$1,340±$304Lowest
5% below U.S.
Exeter and Lyndeborough 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.
$7,133
129% above U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.9%±90
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1989
9 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1981
1 yr newer than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 min
12% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
39 minHighest
48% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
20.2%±7.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
16.7%±3.5
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
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 — #15 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District RSU 18
High school in town None in town Exeter High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
— —
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.