Compare towns
Exeter vs Needham vs Newmarket
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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Needham | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
32,459Highest |
9,463Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Newmarket are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,734Lowest 180% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Needham | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Needham High | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.9 |
9.9Lowest |
| 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.