Compare towns
Washington vs Exeter vs Wells
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 ($218k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wells has the oldest housing (typical home built 1977).
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 | Wells |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,056Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,148 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.9±5.1Highest 36% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
50.7±5.2 30% above U.S. |
| Washington and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.1%±4.2Lowest 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+ | 24.3%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 31% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
29.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,103±$8kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$75,417±$11k 7% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $217,700±$37kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$243,000±$42k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $996±$285Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,313±$282 7% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,485 12% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,308Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.5%±63.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.5%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wells and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
48 minHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.9%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
11.3%±6.2Lowest 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 | Echo Valley Community Union School District #67 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Wells Spring Unified Union School District #69 |
| 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.