Compare towns
Exeter vs Ayer vs Newmarket
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Ayer has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Exeter | Ayer | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,098Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.1±6.9 8% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±5.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$74,878±$17kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$100,845±$13k 25% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$444,600±$43kLowest 34% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,240±$169Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,911Lowest 57% above U.S. |
$8,734 180% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±21.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.8%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Ayer 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.