Compare towns
Ripton vs Townshend vs Exeter vs Lincoln
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ripton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Lincoln has the youngest population (median age 45.7).
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 | Ripton | Townshend | Exeter | Lincoln |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 508Lowest |
1,538 |
16,151Highest |
1,394 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47.7±14.2 23% above U.S. |
55.6±9.6Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.7±3.6Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Townshend and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.8%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12%±2.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Lincoln are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.5%±7.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48% U.S.: 35.7% |
52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,917±$15kHighest 40% above U.S. |
$78,750±$29kLowest about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$96,667±$18k 20% above U.S. |
| Ripton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $394,400±$61k 19% above U.S. |
$287,200±$79kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$365,200±$30k 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Ripton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,074±$80 24% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$870±$47Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,915Lowest 58% above U.S. |
$5,364 72% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,100 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.9%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
72.5%±23.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
49.1%±25.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townshend and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.2%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Addison Central Unified Union School District #55 | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lincoln Town School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 8.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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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.