Compare towns
Exeter vs Windham vs Northbridge 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 oldest population (median age 45.8).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).
Northbridge has the most affordable homes ($449k median).
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 | Northbridge | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,038 |
16,458Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6 13% 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±2.1 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% |
36.9%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% |
4.3%±1.3 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. |
$189,583±$19k 135% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% 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±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% 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. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below 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. |
$4,821Lowest 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% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9%Highest 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% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1991 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 17% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
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% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham School District | Northbridge | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Windham High School | Northbridge High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.8Highest |
10.8Lowest |
— |
| 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.