Compare towns
Exeter vs Newington vs South Berwick
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%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Newington | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
939Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
48.7±10.1Highest 25% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Newington 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% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
28%±11Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Newington 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and South Berwick 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. |
$145,833±$46kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Newington and Exeter 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. |
$861,600±$46kHighest 159% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,292±$795Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Newington 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. |
$6,081 95% above U.S. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.9%±44Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and South Berwick 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 | — | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newington School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.0Highest |
| 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.