Compare towns
Newfields vs Townsend vs Durham 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).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Townsend | Durham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
9,100 |
10,681 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
20.1±0.2Lowest 48% below 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% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
6.5%±2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
70.2%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$112,070±$25k 39% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$498,000±$45k 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,302±$211Lowest 8% 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.4%±19.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Durham 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
53.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 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 |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±3.3 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 | — | #136 of 282 in MA | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | North Middlesex | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | — | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.