Compare towns
Cushing vs Exeter vs Owls Head
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Cushing has the most homeowners (84.7%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Owls Head has the shortest commute (16 min average).
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 | Cushing | Exeter | Owls Head |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,460Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,482 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.8±7.7 25% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
52.6±6.6Highest 35% above U.S. |
| Owls Head and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.6%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cushing and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
31.9%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $83,500±$19kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$87,325±$7k 8% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $409,800±$44kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$413,300±$43k 24% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Owls Head are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,553±$376 10% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,191±$386Lowest 16% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,944 26% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,981Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.7%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
29.9%±51.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Cushing are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
81.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 11% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
16 minLowest 38% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 18.5%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Cushing 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 | RSU 13 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 13 |
| 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.