Compare towns
Exeter vs Hollis vs Townsend 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%).
Hollis has the most people working from home (29%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Hollis | Townsend | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,603 |
9,100 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.4±5Highest 27% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Hollis 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%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±4.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hollis 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% |
57.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 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±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$168,883±$22k 109% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Hollis 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. |
$675,900±$48kHighest 103% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Hollis and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,598±$302 13% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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% |
1.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min 3% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29%±6.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hollis and Newfields 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 | #8 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District | North Middlesex | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hollis-Brookline High School | North Middlesex Regional | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
11.8Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.