Compare towns
Exeter vs Newfields vs Topsfield
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%).
Newfields has the most homeowners (95.3%).
Topsfield has the most expensive homes ($853k median).
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 | Newfields | Topsfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,023Lowest |
6,564 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
42.2±1.8Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
24.8%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsfield and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Topsfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
71.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$195,718±$16k 142% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Topsfield 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. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$853,400±$40kHighest 157% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,115±$538Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% 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% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.9%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.4%±8.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Topsfield 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 | — | #172 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Topsfield |
| 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 | 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.