Compare towns
Stowe vs Exeter vs Durham 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Exeter | Durham | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285 |
16,151Highest |
15,080 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below 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% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
75.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Durham and Exeter 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. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$504,300±$41k 52% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Stowe and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,429±$143 about the U.S. average |
$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. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 min 27% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Exeter High School | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.1 |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 51 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.