Compare towns
Exeter vs South Berwick vs Wells
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 the most people working from home (19.9%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+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 | South Berwick | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,670Lowest |
11,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Wells 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% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wells 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. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and South Berwick 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. |
$428,300±$26kLowest 29% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Exeter and South Berwick 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. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and South Berwick 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% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Wells 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 | #22 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Wells-Ogunquit CSD |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Marshwood High School | Wells High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
13.0Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.