Compare towns
Exeter vs Mont Vernon 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%).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
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 | Mont Vernon | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
2,636Lowest |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.9±2.8Lowest 10% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Saco 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% |
22.1%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mont Vernon and Exeter 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% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±2.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$158,036±$19kHighest 96% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$526,300±$39kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,104±$185Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,249±$385 12% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Saco 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. |
$9,432Highest 202% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.4%±80.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.3%±14Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 13% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.6%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mont Vernon 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mont Vernon School District | 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.