Compare towns
Saco vs Newmarket vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Saco has the most affordable homes ($413k median).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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.
| Measure | Saco | Newmarket | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 20,819Highest |
9,463Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.7%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,241±$11kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13k 25% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $413,100±$17kLowest 24% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,807Lowest 54% above U.S. |
$8,734 180% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.3%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Saco are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME | #39 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Saco Public Schools | Newmarket School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 9.9Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.