Compare towns

Carmel vs Exeter vs Windsor

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%).
Windsor has the most kids (23.2% under 18).

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.

MeasureCarmelExeterWindsor
People
Population
2,941
16,151Highest
2,690Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+2.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
46.4±4.5Highest
19% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
43.5±8Lowest
12% 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%
23.2%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Windsor and Carmel 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%
14.3%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
17.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
21%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
1.9%±1.3Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$82,188±$22k
about the U.S. average
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$63,178±$5kLowest
22% below U.S.
Exeter and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$256,800±$37k
23% below U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$228,800±$22kLowest
31% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,276±$187
10% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,265±$400Lowest
10% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,662
15% below U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$2,160Lowest
31% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
56.4%±38.1
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
46.2%±31.6Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Carmel are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
13.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1986
6 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
36 minHighest
35% above U.S.
Work from home
6.5%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
6.5%±3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #77 of 133 in ME #22 of 120 in NH #44 of 133 in ME
School district RSU 87/MSAD 23 Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 12
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 → 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.