Compare towns
Exeter vs Putney 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%).
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).
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 | Putney | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,622 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below 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%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Putney 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% |
18.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Worcester 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% |
48.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$79,706±$18k about the U.S. average |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Putney 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. |
$300,000±$44k 10% below U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,023±$136 28% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,313 70% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Putney 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% |
16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | 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 | 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.