Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Stowe
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Exeter | Stowe |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,151Highest |
5,285Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Stowe Town School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | Stowe High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.1 |
11.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.