Compare towns
Washington vs Exeter vs Lee
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Washington has the most homeowners (92.5%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Lee has the shortest commute (18 min average).
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 | Washington | Exeter | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,719 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.2±5.8 42% above U.S. |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 35.4%±1.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.4%±6.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,278±$12k 18% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$83,750±$13kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $370,700±$32k 11% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$352,700±$19kLowest 6% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,375±$212Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 40% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,980Lowest 28% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.3%±21.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.4%±7.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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 | #209 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lee |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Lee Middle/High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
9.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 20 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.