Compare towns
Ashby vs Exeter vs Holland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashby has the highest household income ($116k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Holland has the most affordable homes ($334k 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 | Ashby | Exeter | Holland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,211 |
16,151Highest |
2,583Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
51.9±7.8Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Holland and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.8%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Holland and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±3.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$91,979±$12kLowest 14% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30k 17% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$333,600±$33kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,750±$209 24% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,034 93% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,279Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.6%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Holland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Ashby 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #182 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Holland |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.