Compare towns
Dummerston vs Exeter vs Middlesex vs Chesterfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dummerston has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Chesterfield has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Dummerston | Exeter | Middlesex | Chesterfield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,090 |
16,151Highest |
1,943Lowest |
3,622 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
46.8±8.7Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Chesterfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.5%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
28.8%±7.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$21kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$102,370±$40k 27% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $335,300±$22kLowest about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$373,500±$33k 12% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,324±$1kLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,344 103% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Chesterfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 21% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.9%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Dummerston 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 | — | #52 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Chesterfield School District |
| 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 Our Story | 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.