Compare towns
Townsend vs Hampton Falls vs Exeter vs Pepperell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townsend has the most affordable homes ($433k median).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Townsend | Hampton Falls | Exeter | Pepperell |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,100 |
2,328Lowest |
16,151Highest |
11,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
49.5±7.3Highest 27% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
42.4±3.3 9% above U.S. |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Pepperell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
$166,157±$14kHighest 106% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$124,073±$12k 54% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$22kLowest 30% above U.S. |
$772,600±$76kHighest 132% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$482,100±$14k 45% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,852±$475 31% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,295±$238Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,698 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±16.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82% U.S.: 65.2% |
86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
32 min 22% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
34 min 28% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.8%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #153 of 282 in MA |
| School district | North Middlesex | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.