Compare towns

Exeter vs Reading 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%).
Reading has the most expensive homes ($809k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).

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.

MeasureExeterReadingNewfields
People
Population
16,151
25,612Highest
2,023Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
43.7±2.3Lowest
12% above U.S.
44.1±1.8
13% 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%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
18.9%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3
U.S.: 17.2%
13.6%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Reading 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%
66.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
68.1%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
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.
$165,912±$13k
106% above U.S.
$197,885±$15kHighest
145% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21kLowest
37% above U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$646,400±$34k
94% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Lowest
31% above U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,875±$323
33% above U.S.
Reading 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.
$9,320
199% 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%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
43.3%±40.8
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%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.4%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
95.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 yrs older than U.S.
1991Highest
11 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
25.5%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
Reading 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 #50 of 282 in MA —
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Reading Newfields School District
High school in town Exeter High School Reading Memorial High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
12.1
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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.