Compare towns
Exeter vs Fall River vs Somerset vs Newfields
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%).
Fall River has the most renters (64.7% rent).
Somerset has the oldest population (median age 47).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Fall River | Somerset | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
94,082Highest |
18,298 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
39.3±1.2Lowest about the U.S. average |
47±2.2Highest 21% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Somerset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±1.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Fall River and Somerset are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.3%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Somerset and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
16.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.1%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$56,673±$3kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$112,677±$6k 40% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$395,500±$11kLowest 19% above U.S. |
$418,800±$18k 26% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,155±$27Lowest 18% below U.S. |
$1,271±$93 10% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$3,953Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,977 60% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.5%±3.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.3%±12.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Somerset 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% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
35.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1962 18 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12%±2.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #262 of 282 in MA | #132 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Fall River · Greater Fall River Regional Vocational Technical | Somerset Berkley Regional School District · Somerset | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | B M C Durfee High | Somerset Berkley Regional High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
11.6 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.