Compare towns
Andover vs Exeter vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Exeter has the most kids (17% under 18).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.
| Measure | Andover | Exeter | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 616Lowest |
16,151Highest |
831 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.2±5.1Highest 26% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47±2.7 21% above U.S. |
| Andover and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,190 66% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Worcester 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.