Compare towns
Exeter vs Standish vs Union
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%).
Standish has the most homeowners (91.2%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Standish | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
10,662 |
2,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Union 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% |
16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
36% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Standish 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. |
$336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Union 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Bonny Eagle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.