Compare towns
Whiting vs Exeter vs Orwell
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Whiting has the most affordable homes ($280k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Orwell has the most homeowners (87.3%).
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 | Whiting | Exeter | Orwell |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 532Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,294 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39.6±2.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
47.5±7Highest 22% above U.S. |
| Orwell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.5%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.8%±5.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Whiting and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Orwell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Whiting and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $91,250±$38k 13% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$70,417±$22kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $280,400±$36kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$335,600±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,204±$519 15% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,105±$51Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Whiting are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,227 36% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,914Lowest 25% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.3%±37.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±35.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Orwell and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 65.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
87.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 10%±5.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±7.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Orwell 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 | Otter Valley Unified Union School District #53 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| 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.