Compare towns
Orange vs Exeter vs Wells vs Washington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wells has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
Washington has the oldest population (median age 52.9).
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 | Orange | Exeter | Wells | Washington |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 957Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,148 |
1,056 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.3±5.3 29% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.6%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±4.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
31% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $71,302±$13k 12% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
$66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $222,000±$22k 33% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
$217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,330±$153 6% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
$996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,545 14% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
$3,485 12% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±87Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.5%±63.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.5%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Washington 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
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.