Compare towns
Sidney vs Windham vs Exeter vs Hollis
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sidney has the most kids (23.1% under 18).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 41.8).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Hollis has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Sidney | Windham | Exeter | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,790Lowest |
19,188Highest |
16,151 |
4,872 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43±5.5 11% above U.S. |
41.8±1.8Lowest 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.8±4.2 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±5.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sidney and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.9%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.8%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Sidney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.5%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,488±$10kLowest 3% above U.S. |
$107,934±$14k 34% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,950±$24k 19% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,200±$34kLowest about the U.S. average |
$388,900±$22k 17% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$338,900±$27k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,340±$304 5% below U.S. |
$1,232±$332Lowest 13% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,372±$293 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,474Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$3,938 26% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,625 16% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.4%±17.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
32.7%±14.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±30.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hollis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
87.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±4.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Windham 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 | #15 of 133 in ME | #95 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #88 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 18 | RSU 14 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 06/MSAD 06 |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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.