Compare towns
Townshend vs Exeter vs Windham vs Fairlee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Townshend has the most people working from home (28%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Fairlee has the most affordable homes ($274k 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 | Townshend | Exeter | Windham | Fairlee |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,538 |
16,151Highest |
594Lowest |
1,066 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +1.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.6±9.6 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
56.2±8.7Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.5%±7.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.2%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Windham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±6.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
46.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Fairlee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $78,750±$29k about the U.S. average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$74,760±$10kLowest 7% below 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 | $287,200±$79k 14% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$274,200±$39kLowest 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,074±$80Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,083±$242 23% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,364Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,951 91% above U.S. |
$5,617 80% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.5%±23.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.2%±94Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
89.2%±71.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Fairlee and Townshend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 8% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 28%±18.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
15%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Townshend 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | West River Valley Union Education District #72B · West River Valley Union Education District #72A | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Rivendell Interstate School District |
| High school in town | Leland & Gray Union Middle & High School | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.