Compare towns
Jefferson vs Exeter vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Jefferson has the most affordable homes ($297k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Washington has the most homeowners (94.4%).
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 | Jefferson | Exeter | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,013Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,208 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
55±4.7 27% above NH |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±9.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
29%±3 NH: 20.1% |
| Jefferson and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.6%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$89,453±$12k 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $296,700±$92kLowest 26% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$358,600±$32k 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,106±$160 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,321 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±71.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±88.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 29% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±5.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Jefferson 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 | Washington School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 14 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.