Compare towns
Berwick vs Exeter vs Sidney vs North 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
Berwick has the youngest population (median age 40.7).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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.
| Measure | Berwick | Exeter | Sidney | North Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,175 |
16,151Highest |
4,790Lowest |
5,129 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.7 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sidney 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%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±5.1 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% |
18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.9%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and North Berwick 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% |
33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
29%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% |
1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and North 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±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$101,875±$16k 26% above U.S. |
| Exeter and North 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. |
$336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$428,500±$33k 29% above U.S. |
| Exeter and North Berwick 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,105±$116Lowest 22% 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. |
$2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,735 20% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±46 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Berwick and Exeter 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% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±5.8 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 | #82 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 60/MSAD 60 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 18 | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Noble High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 12.0Lowest |
| 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.



