Compare towns

Lowell vs Exeter vs Montgomery

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 most kids (30.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Montgomery has the oldest population (median age 51.5).

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.

MeasureLowellExeterMontgomery
People
Population
1,070
16,151Highest
1,047Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.9%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
32.9±6.5Lowest
15% below U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
51.5±11.3Highest
32% above U.S.
Montgomery and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
30.7%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
15.5%±4.4Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
12.3%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
33.9%±8.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Montgomery and Exeter 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%
52.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2.8%±1.9Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$57,404±$15k
29% below U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$53,289±$24kLowest
34% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$183,400±$33kLowest
45% below U.S.
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$323,200±$45k
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$945±$46
33% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$868±$209Lowest
39% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$2,810Lowest
10% below U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,326
39% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
26.3%±92.9Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
76.6%±68Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Montgomery and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
9.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
15.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
55 minHighest
109% above U.S.
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
37 min
41% above U.S.
Work from home
7.5%±2.3Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
16%±5.9
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Montgomery 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 Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85
High school in town None in town Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1
—
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.