Compare towns
Exeter vs Kittery vs Seabrook Beach
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%).
Kittery has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Seabrook Beach has the most expensive homes ($921k 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 | Kittery | Seabrook Beach |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
10,473 |
1,001Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
46.8±2.3 20% above U.S. |
62±3.8Highest 59% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.2%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
42.1%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
46% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Kittery 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. |
$93,728±$14k 16% above U.S. |
$93,571±$43kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Kittery are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$468,500±$31k 41% above U.S. |
$920,900±$75kHighest 177% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,716±$224Lowest 21% above U.S. |
$1,725±$575 22% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Seabrook Beach 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. |
$4,518Lowest 45% 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% |
38.8%±14.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
90.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Seabrook Beach and Exeter 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% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.7%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
39.5%±20Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Seabrook Beach and Kittery 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 | #17 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kittery Public Schools | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Robert W Traip Academy | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
9.9Lowest |
— |
| 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.