Compare towns

Windham vs Exeter vs South 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

Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
South Berwick has the most affordable homes ($428k 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.

MeasureWindhamExeterSouth Berwick
People
Population
16,038
16,151Highest
7,670Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.1±2.9
6% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
39±2.5Lowest
about the U.S. average
Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
26.7%±6
U.S.: 22%
Windham and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.8%±3
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
41.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.8%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$99,572±$13kLowest
23% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$428,300±$26kLowest
29% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,726±$83Lowest
22% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$4,956Lowest
59% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
52.2%±50.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
53.5%±24.5
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
78.3%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
27 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
21.9%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
17.6%±5.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Windham 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 #13 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH #58 of 133 in ME
School district Windham School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
High school in town Windham High School Exeter High School Marshwood High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.8
12.1Lowest
13.0Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.