Compare towns

Winthrop vs Exeter vs Wayne 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

Winthrop has the most affordable homes ($295k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wayne has the oldest population (median age 55.6).
Berwick has the youngest population (median age 40.7).

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.

MeasureWinthropExeterWayneBerwick
People
Population
6,191
16,151Highest
1,101Lowest
8,175
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.6±5.3
12% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
55.6±5.3Highest
43% above U.S.
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
22.9%±5.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
13.4%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4
U.S.: 22%
Winthrop and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.4%±5
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
29.2%±3.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
6.5%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Wayne and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$86,470±$4kLowest
7% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$93,194±$26k
15% above U.S.
$94,771±$24k
17% above U.S.
Exeter and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$294,800±$41kLowest
11% below U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$362,800±$29k
9% above U.S.
$369,100±$19k
11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$892±$319Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$983±$554
30% below 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
$3,506
12% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$3,289Lowest
5% above U.S.
$4,436
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.8%±22.4
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
25%±52.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Winthrop are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
12.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
7.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
92.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1977Lowest
3 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
35 minHighest
31% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
30 min
15% above U.S.
30 min
12% above U.S.
Work from home
23.1%±6.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.2%±11.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Wayne and Winthrop 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 #12 of 133 in ME #22 of 120 in NH — #101 of 133 in ME
School district Winthrop Public Schools Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 38 RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Winthrop High School Exeter High School None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
11.7Lowest
12.1Highest
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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.