What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Berwick has the most homeowners (88.7%).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	North Berwick	Exeter
People
Population	5,129Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41.6±4.7Lowest 7% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	21.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	North Berwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	20.9%±5Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	29%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	4.7%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$101,875±$16kLowest 26% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$428,500±$33kLowest 29% above U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
	Exeter and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,105±$116Lowest 22% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,735Lowest 20% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	66.2%±28.7Highest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1%
	North Berwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	4.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	88.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	31 minHighest 18% above U.S.	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	15%±5.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and North 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	#82 of 133 in ME	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 60/MSAD 60	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Noble High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 photos →

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.