Compare towns
Stowe vs Windham vs Exeter
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%).
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k 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 | Windham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,285Lowest |
16,038 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.1±2.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.4%±3.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Stowe 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% |
15.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 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% |
62.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33kLowest 16% above U.S. |
$189,583±$19kHighest 135% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $647,800±$157k 95% above U.S. |
$723,300±$50kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
| Windham and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$3,218±$350Highest 128% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161Lowest 130% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.2%±50.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1996Highest 16 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe 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 | — | #13 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Stowe Town School District | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Windham High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.8Highest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.