Compare towns
Exeter vs Millis vs Norfolk 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%).
Millis has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Norfolk has the most kids (24.4% under 18).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
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 | Millis | Norfolk | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,888 |
11,673 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.4±3Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.6±1.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Millis 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% |
18.4%±2.8 U.S.: 22% |
24.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Millis 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% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
61.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$155,996±$9k 93% above U.S. |
$200,720±$22kHighest 149% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15k 145% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$603,500±$31k 81% above U.S. |
$725,200±$34kHighest 118% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,696±$279Lowest 20% above U.S. |
$2,019±$598Highest 43% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Norfolk and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
$9,344 200% above U.S. |
$9,651 209% 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% |
56.5%±16.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.1%±16 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Norfolk 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% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.5%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.6%±5.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Norfolk 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 | #63 of 282 in MA | #123 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Millis | King Philip · Millis | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Millis High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.