Compare towns
Stowe vs Dummerston vs Exeter vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Dummerston has the most homeowners (92.9%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Stowe | Dummerston | Exeter | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285 |
2,090 |
16,151Highest |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7Lowest 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Worcester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 130% above U.S. |
$4,536 45% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston and Stowe 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 | Stowe Town School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.