Compare towns
Westmoreland vs Exeter vs Cornish vs Thornton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Westmoreland has the oldest population (median age 55.3).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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 | Westmoreland | Exeter | Cornish | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,237 |
16,151Highest |
1,816Lowest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.3±2.2Highest 28% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
54±8.3 25% above NH |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
| Westmoreland and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.5%±3.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 31.7%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Westmoreland and Cornish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,444±$28k 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$91,821±$2k 7% below NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Exeter and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $351,800±$12k 13% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,354±$280 9% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
| Exeter and Westmoreland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,643 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.5%±23.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Exeter 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Westmoreland School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Cornish School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.