Compare towns
Ashby vs Exeter vs Windham 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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
Windham has the most expensive homes ($723k median).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Windham | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,211Lowest |
16,151Highest |
16,038 |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest 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. |
41.1±2.9 6% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Townsend 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest 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% |
62.7%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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% 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. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% 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. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Windham 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%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% |
93.9% 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. |
1996Highest 16 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. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
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% |
21.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #200 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Windham High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
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.