Compare towns
Standish vs Exeter vs Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Standish has the most affordable homes ($336k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Berwick has the most kids (22.7% 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 | Standish | Exeter | Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,662 |
16,151Highest |
8,175Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.7±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Berwick and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$94,771±$24kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,000±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$369,100±$19k 11% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,452±$430 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,436 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±46Lowest 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 | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.2%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Berwick and Exeter 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #101 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 60/MSAD 60 |
| High school in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| 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.