Compare towns
Exeter vs Lowell vs Worcester
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 the most people working from home (19.9%).
Lowell has the most kids (21.7% under 18).
Worcester has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.1%).
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 | Lowell | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Lowest |
118,368 |
207,055Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8 8% below U.S. |
33.9±0.5Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.6%±0.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Worcester 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.3%±0.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.1%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4k about the U.S. average |
$70,102±$2kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$374,400±$7kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Lowell 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. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,487±$38Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Lowell 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. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$4,733 52% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±2.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
16.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1953 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.5%±1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #255 of 282 in MA | #266 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lowell | Ma Academy for Math and Science · Worcester |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Lowell High | South High Community |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.8Highest |
14.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.