Compare towns

Concord vs Exeter vs South 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

Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).

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.

MeasureConcordExeterSouth Berwick
People
Population
44,375Highest
16,151
7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
40.7±1.3
5% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Kids under 18
17.2%±1.3
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
18.7%±1.5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6%±0.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$84,902±$5kLowest
5% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$99,572±$13k
23% above U.S.
Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$350,900±$13kLowest
5% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$428,300±$26k
29% above U.S.
Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,441±$43Lowest
about the U.S. average
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,726±$83
22% above U.S.
Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,227
132% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
44.1%±5.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
56.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1982Highest
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 minLowest
13% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
Work from home
14.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and South 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 #89 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH #58 of 133 in ME
School district Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Concord High School Exeter High School Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
13.0Highest
12.1Lowest
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.