Compare towns
Chatham vs Exeter vs Newfields vs Stow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Stow has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Chatham | Exeter | Newfields | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 430Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,023 |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
57±10.5Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
37.9%±17.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stow and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±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 | $66,042±$19k 18% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$326,400±$42kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Lowest 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 | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$3,304Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1998Highest 18 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 35% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | — |
| High school 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 → | 7 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.