Compare towns
Exeter vs Middlesex vs Windsor 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Worcester has the oldest population (median age 47).
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 | Middlesex | Windsor | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,943 |
3,554 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Windsor 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester 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±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$73,833±$18k 9% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Middlesex 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27k 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,026±$89 27% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Middlesex 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$5,209 67% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Windsor 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Worcester 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 | — | #61 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.