Compare towns
Carmel vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Etna
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Carmel has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Etna has the most affordable homes ($183k 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 | Carmel | Exeter | Newfields | Etna |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,941 |
16,151Highest |
2,023 |
1,252Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.6% 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 | 46.4±4.5Highest 19% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
41.9±3.4Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Carmel and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.6%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20%±6.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Etna and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.5%±1.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
13.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.5Lowest 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 | $82,188±$22k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$72,379±$16kLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $256,800±$37k 23% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$183,000±$49kLowest 45% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,276±$187Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$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 | $2,662 15% below U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$1,745Lowest 44% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±38.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Etna and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 6.5%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
5.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 | #77 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | RSU 87/MSAD 23 | 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 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 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.