Compare towns
Exeter vs Windham vs Gorham 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 the most renters (30.9% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Gorham has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
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 | Gorham | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,038 |
18,300Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9 6% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Gorham 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% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3%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% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Newfields 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. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
| 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 31% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,680±$355Lowest 19% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,825Lowest 55% 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% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #24 of 133 in ME | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham School District | Gorham Public Schools | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Windham High School | Gorham High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.8 |
12.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.