Compare towns
Benson vs Exeter vs Orwell vs Waterville
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Benson has the oldest population (median age 51.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
Waterville has the most affordable homes ($236k 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 | Benson | Exeter | Orwell | Waterville |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 784 |
16,151Highest |
1,294 |
680Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.5±7 22% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.4%±8.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Orwell and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Benson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$71,250±$27k 12% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,110±$93 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,125 32% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$3,957 27% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.4%±35.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 20% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.6%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Benson 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 | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.