Compare towns
Reading vs Cornwall vs Exeter vs West Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Cornwall has the most people working from home (24.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
West Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Reading | Cornwall | Exeter | West Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 699Lowest |
1,208 |
16,151Highest |
711 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
50.4±4.6 30% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.3±7.6 29% above U.S. |
| Reading and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
18.7%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Cornwall and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.7%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| West Fairlee and Reading are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$114,583±$32kHighest 42% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$76,500±$16kLowest 5% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$458,000±$49kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$237,200±$35kLowest 29% below U.S. |
| Cornwall and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,125±$206 20% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,113±$171 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,754 84% above U.S. |
$6,726 116% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,210Lowest 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.9%±65.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±89.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Cornwall are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
0.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.5%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Cornwall and Reading 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 | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.