Compare towns
Braintree vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Stockbridge
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Braintree has the most affordable homes ($218k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stockbridge has the most people working from home (28.6%).
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 | Braintree | Exeter | Newfields | Stockbridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,026 |
16,151Highest |
2,023 |
791Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 58.4±2.4Highest 50% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
55.3±5.3 42% above U.S. |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
9.9%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.2%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Braintree and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.1%±1.2Lowest 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 | $79,803±$5k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$77,109±$12kLowest 4% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$28kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$283,500±$26k 15% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $840±$405Lowest 41% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,140±$126 19% below 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 | $3,908Lowest 25% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,488 44% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.4%±29.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.3%±22 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Stockbridge are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
85% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.6%±12.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stockbridge and Newfields 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 | Orange Southwest Unified Union School District #59 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Rochester Stockbridge Unified School District #81 |
| 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.