Compare towns
Newfields vs Ayer vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Ayer has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
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 | Newfields | Ayer | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
8,645 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29k 39% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields and Ayer 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 | — | #113 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 59 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.