Compare towns
Middlesex vs Cornwall vs Exeter vs Westford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Cornwall has the oldest population (median age 50.4).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Westford has the youngest population (median age 44.1).
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 | Middlesex | Cornwall | Exeter | Westford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,943 |
1,208Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,290 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6Highest 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.1±8.6Lowest 13% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Westford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,750±$12k 40% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Westford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$424,500±$21k 28% above U.S. |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,375±$1kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Westford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,483 108% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,282Lowest 101% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
29.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min 4% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.1%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Cornwall 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Essex Westford Educational Community Unified Union SD #51 |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 photos → |
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.