Compare towns
Calais vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
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 | Calais | Exeter | Newfields | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,713Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,023 |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Calais and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $100,625±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,300±$36kLowest 17% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,408±$392Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,586 111% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| 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 → | 7 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.