Compare towns
Exeter vs Durham vs Berwick vs Newfields
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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Berwick has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Berwick | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
15,080 |
1,998Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
42.6±3.6 10% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±12.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Newfields 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.9%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$81,406±$39kLowest about the U.S. average |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$323,300±$36kLowest about the U.S. average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,041±$901Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,806Lowest 22% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.9%±45.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.7%±7.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | — | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Oyster River High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 51 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.