Compare towns
Danby vs Exeter vs Salisbury vs Wells
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Danby has the oldest population (median age 52.6).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Salisbury has the shortest commute (19 min average).
Wells has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Danby | Exeter | Salisbury | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,133Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,200 |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±4.8Highest 35% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.6±6.5 30% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Danby and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.6%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,321±$13k 4% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$99,688±$21k 23% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $272,400±$41k 18% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$306,900±$51k 8% below U.S. |
$243,000±$42kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $794±$166Lowest 44% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,443±$984 about the U.S. average |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Salisbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,543 46% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,842 55% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.4%±34.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
31.9%±22.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Danby 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 | Taconic and Green Regional School District #63 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.