Compare towns
Newfields vs Durham vs St. Albans 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).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
St. Albans has the most affordable homes ($263k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | St. Albans | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
15,080 |
6,954 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
38.7±2 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| St. Albans and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.9%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21k 54% above U.S. |
$57,980±$7kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$263,400±$18kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$1,150±$78Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,436Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.8%±11.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
15.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
19.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
49%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
23 min 14% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #46 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | Bellows Free Academy (St. Albans) | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.4Lowest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | None yet | 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.