Compare towns
Exeter vs Millinocket vs Brentwood
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%).
Millinocket has the most affordable homes ($104k median).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Millinocket | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,115Lowest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
54.2±6.2Highest 39% above U.S. |
43.8±3.1Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Millinocket and Exeter 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% |
16.1%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brentwood and Exeter 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% |
36.2%±8.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
18.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Millinocket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$51,007±$9kLowest 37% below U.S. |
$165,509±$23kHighest 105% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$103,800±$26kLowest 69% below U.S. |
$528,100±$75kHighest 59% above U.S. |
| Brentwood 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. |
$451±$130Lowest 68% below U.S. |
$2,217±$654Highest 57% above U.S. |
| Brentwood 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. |
$1,580Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$9,713Highest 211% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
20.5%±11Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.9%±37.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Brentwood 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% |
17.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.6%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brentwood 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 | #98 of 133 in ME | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Millinocket Public Schools | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Stearns Jr-Sr High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.