Compare towns

North Berwick vs Exeter vs Sidney

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

North Berwick has the youngest population (median age 41.6).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Sidney has the most affordable homes ($336k median).

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.

MeasureNorth BerwickExeterSidney
People
Population
5,129
16,151Highest
4,790Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.8%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.6±4.7Lowest
7% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
43±5.5
11% above U.S.
Exeter and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
21.2%±5.1
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
23.1%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
Sidney and North Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.9%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
18.4%±3.6Lowest
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%
33.5%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.7%±2.1
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.2Lowest
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±$16k
26% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$83,488±$10kLowest
3% 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±$33k
29% above U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$336,200±$34kLowest
about the U.S. average
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.
$1,340±$304
5% below U.S.
Exeter and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$3,735
20% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$2,474Lowest
21% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
66.2%±28.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
16.4%±17.5Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.4%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1983
3 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
18% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
Work from home
15%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.3%±5.9Lowest
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 #15 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 60/MSAD 60 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 18
High school in town Noble High School Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.0Lowest
12.1Highest
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Old photos in History None yet 59 photos → 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.