Compare towns
Exeter vs Eliot vs Saco
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%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k 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 | Exeter | Eliot | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
7,146Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Exeter 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% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Saco 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. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter 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. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$4,807 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
24 min 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Saco 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Saco Public Schools |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
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| 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.