Compare towns
Exeter vs Mason vs Townsend
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%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Mason | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,451Lowest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.7±2.3 12% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Mason 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Mason and Townsend 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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. |
$111,090±$3k 38% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Mason 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. |
$384,000±$21kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Townsend 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. |
$2,530±$852Highest 79% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Mason and Exeter 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. |
$7,049 126% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
87.2%±42.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Mason and Exeter 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% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
41 minHighest 55% above U.S. |
37 min 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mason 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mason School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.1Highest |
| 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.