Compare towns
Exeter vs Windham vs Atkinson vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Newfields has the most people working from home (25.5%).
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 | Windham | Atkinson | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
16,038 |
7,267 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 11% above NH |
$189,583±$19k 91% above NH |
$146,380±$32k 48% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Newfields and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$555,200±$65k 38% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Windham and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,918Lowest 4% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1991 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 15% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Windham High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.