Compare towns
Exeter vs Rockland 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%).
Rockland has the shortest commute (12 min average).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Rockland | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,035 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.3±6Highest 27% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rockland and Exeter 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% |
15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.4%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Rockland and Exeter 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% |
35.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±2.1Lowest 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$56,533±$6kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$245,800±$38kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,092±$105Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above 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 | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,059Lowest 30% 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% |
57.6%±15.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Rockland 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% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1948Lowest 32 yrs older than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
12 minLowest 53% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.1%±7.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Rockland 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 | #96 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rockland-Region 8 · RSU 13 | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Oceanside High School | 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 |
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.