Compare towns
Newfields vs North Reading 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).
North Reading has the most kids (22.3% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | North Reading | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
15,765 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
43±2.8Lowest 11% above U.S. |
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% |
22.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| North Reading 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% |
16.7%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
56.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$147,768±$25k 83% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34k 94% above U.S. |
$710,500±$24kHighest 114% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323 33% above U.S. |
$2,259±$356Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| North Reading and Newfields 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. |
$9,693 211% above U.S. |
$8,814Lowest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
75.5%±25.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| North Reading 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% |
2.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 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 |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
26.1%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| North Reading and Newfields 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 | — | #33 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | North Reading | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Reading High | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.

