Compare towns
Exeter vs South Berwick vs White River Junction
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 oldest population (median age 45.8).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
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 | White River Junction |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,670 |
3,364Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39±2.5 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and White River Junction 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% |
15.8%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest 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±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
$77,168±$4kLowest 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. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
| Exeter and South Berwick 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. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% 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. |
$4,956Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,651 81% 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% |
42.9%±17.3Lowest 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Lowest 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 | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | 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.