Compare towns
Brookline vs Dummerston vs Exeter vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brookline has the most affordable homes ($291k median).
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Brookline | Dummerston | Exeter | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 531Lowest |
2,090 |
16,151Highest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20%±6 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest 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 | $80,833±$16kLowest about the U.S. average |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $290,700±$37kLowest 13% below U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above 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 | $5,000 60% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% 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 | 47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | — | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.