Compare towns
Standish vs Exeter vs Steep Falls
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 homeowners (91.2%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Steep Falls has the most kids (22.9% 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 | Standish | Exeter | Steep Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,662 |
16,151Highest |
1,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±6.5 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Steep Falls 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% |
22.9%±9.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Steep Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
9.7%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
14.5%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% |
3.5%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$80,280±$33kLowest 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 | $336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$243,400±$31kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,516±$1k 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Steep Falls 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. |
$3,273 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±36.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Steep Falls and Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
4%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Standish 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 | — |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.