Compare towns
Washington vs Exeter vs Peru
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 oldest population (median age 56.5).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Peru has the most affordable homes ($267k 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 | Washington | Exeter | Peru |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 526Lowest |
16,151Highest |
630 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -8.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56.5±7.7Highest 45% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
52.6±4.8 35% above U.S. |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Peru 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% |
29.7%±6.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Washington and Peru are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28%Lowest 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% |
3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Peru 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. |
$90,750±$18kLowest 12% 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. |
$267,400±$15kLowest 20% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,381 40% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,805Lowest 22% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Washington 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%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
98.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 4% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.9%±10.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Washington 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 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.