Compare towns
Exeter vs Berwick 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Berwick | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,998Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest 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. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$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 | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below 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 | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest 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 | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.