Compare towns
Exeter vs Holbrook vs Ashby
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%).
Holbrook has the most kids (21.2% under 18).
Ashby has the most affordable homes ($391k 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 | Exeter | Holbrook | Ashby |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
11,380 |
3,211Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.8±3.2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
50.5±3Highest 30% above U.S. |
| Ashby 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% |
21.2%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Holbrook 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% |
19.1%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.5%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Ashby are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$115,210±$14k 43% above U.S. |
$115,598±$9kHighest 43% above U.S. |
| Ashby and Holbrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$465,400±$21kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$390,500±$30kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| Holbrook and Exeter 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. |
$1,094±$423Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,200±$484 15% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Ashby 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. |
$6,105 96% above U.S. |
$6,034Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±18.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
36.4%±53.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Holbrook 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% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.6%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
38 minHighest 44% above U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Ashby 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 | #234 of 282 in MA | #200 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Holbrook | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Holbrook Middle High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.