Compare towns
Exeter vs Wells vs Wheelock
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%).
Wells has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Wheelock has the most affordable homes ($190k 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 | Wells | Wheelock |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,148 |
717Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
51±5.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Wheelock and Wells 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% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Wheelock and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.4%±4.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wheelock and Wells 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% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$64,792±$20kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$189,600±$37kLowest 43% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282Lowest 7% below U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,308 6% above U.S. |
$2,937Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Exeter 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% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
97.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
28 min 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±16Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wheelock 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | 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.