Compare towns
Lee vs Exeter vs Washington vs Dalton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Dalton has the most kids (20.6% under 18).
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 | Lee | Exeter | Washington | Dalton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,719 |
16,151Highest |
526Lowest |
6,256 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-6.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
49.7±5.8 28% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dalton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.9%±5.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,750±$13k 4% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
$79,438±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $352,700±$19k 6% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
$295,700±$26kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$212 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $872±$70Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,381 40% above U.S. |
$4,276 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±19 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959 21 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1957Lowest 23 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.5%±7.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #192 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Lee | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Central Berkshire |
| High school in town | Lee Middle/High School | Exeter High School | — | Wahconah Regional High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.2Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | 10.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 20 photos → | 59 photos → | 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.