Compare towns
Billerica vs Exeter vs Carlisle
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Billerica has the youngest population (median age 43.3).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Carlisle has the most people working from home (38.5%).
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 | Billerica | Exeter | Carlisle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 42,003Highest |
16,151 |
5,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.3±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±3.1 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 18%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.7%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Carlisle are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
87.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Billerica are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,200±$8k 84% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$250,001Highest 210% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $612,000±$13k 84% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,103,900±$46kHighest 232% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,282±$173Highest 62% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,313±$855Lowest 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,358Lowest 104% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.3%±8.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
77%±21.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Carlisle and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
35 minHighest 34% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.5%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
38.5%±8.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #146 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #24 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Billerica · Shawsheen Valley Regional Vocational Technical | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Carlisle |
| High school in town | Billerica Memorial High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.1Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.