Compare towns
Washington vs Exeter vs Palermo
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 affordable homes ($195k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Palermo has the most kids (18.1% under 18).
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 | Palermo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,624 |
16,151Highest |
1,473Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.2±6.7Highest 24% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.4±6.1Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Washington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.1%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Palermo and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Washington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $59,861±$17kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$89,095±$15k 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $195,200±$36kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$259,700±$54k 22% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,036±$322Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,235±$1k 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Palermo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,286Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,506 20% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.3%±62.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
65.6%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Palermo and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 min 16% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.6%±5.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.8%±10.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Palermo 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 | RSU 40/MSAD 40 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 12 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| 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.