Compare towns
Standish vs Exeter vs Union
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%).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Union |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,662 |
16,151Highest |
2,663Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Union 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% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Union are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4%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%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,593±$15k 30% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest 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. |
$267,600±$42kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% 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% |
24.6%±19.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Union 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Bonny Eagle High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| 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.