Compare towns
Ashby vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Townsend
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 oldest population (median age 50.5).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Ashby | Exeter | Newfields | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211 |
16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Ashby 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $115,598±$9k 43% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,200±$484Lowest 15% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.