Compare towns
Chatham vs Exeter 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 highest household income ($110k).
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 | Stow |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
16,151Highest |
535 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 24% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% 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% |
15.7%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Chatham and Exeter 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%±2.8Lowest 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%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%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chatham 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±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$42,204±$22kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 9% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$326,400±$42kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690 18% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% 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% |
20%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Chatham 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%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% |
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. |
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. |
51 minHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.7%±12 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Stow 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.