Compare towns
Lowell vs Exeter vs Albany
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Lowell has the youngest population (median age 32.9).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Albany has the most kids (31% 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 | Lowell | Exeter | Albany |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,070 |
16,151Highest |
934Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 32.9±6.5Lowest 15% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
42.4±6.2 9% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 30.7%±6.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
31%±10.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Albany and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 12.3%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±6.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.3%±4.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Albany and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,404±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$59,167±$14k 27% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $183,400±$33kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$231,500±$12k 30% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $945±$46Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,114±$23 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,810Lowest 10% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,093 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 26.3%±92.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44%±65.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Albany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 55 minHighest 109% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.5%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±11.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Albany and Exeter 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 | Lowell School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lake Region Union Elementary Middle School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.