Compare towns
Athens vs Exeter vs Readsboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Readsboro has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Athens | Exeter | Readsboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 431Lowest |
16,151Highest |
807 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.3±6.5 22% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.7±3.9Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Readsboro and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.9%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
26.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.9%±3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $68,438±$30k 15% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$55,268±$12kLowest 32% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $240,400±$32k 28% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$215,500±$52kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$537 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$724±$32Lowest 49% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,438 74% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,480Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.5%±39 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
17.4%±24.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Athens are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
76.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Athens 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 | Readsboro School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.