Compare towns

Exeter vs Windham vs Worcester

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 the highest household income ($190k).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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.

MeasureExeterWindhamWorcester
People
Population
16,151Highest
16,038
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+16.4%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
41.1±2.9Lowest
6% above U.S.
47±2.7Highest
21% above U.S.
Worcester 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%
27.4%±3.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Worcester 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%
62.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Lowest
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%
6.9%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Worcester 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.
$189,583±$19kHighest
135% above U.S.
$73,833±$18kLowest
9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$723,300±$50kHighest
117% above U.S.
$271,100±$27kLowest
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$3,218±$350Highest
128% above U.S.
$1,023±$136Lowest
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$10,000+Highest
at least 221% above U.S.
$4,421Lowest
42% 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%
25.5%±37Lowest
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%
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
93.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1996Highest
16 yrs newer than U.S.
1976Lowest
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
29 min
9% above U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.9%±4.4
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester 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 —
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Windham School District Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town Exeter High School Windham High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
12.8Highest
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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.