Compare towns
Wilmington vs Exeter vs Chelmsford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wilmington has the highest household income ($168k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Chelmsford has the most people working from home (22.8%).
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 | Wilmington | Exeter | Chelmsford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 23,336 |
16,151Lowest |
36,446Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.3±2.2 9% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±1.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilmington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.1%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.6%±1.8 U.S.: 22% |
| Wilmington and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $168,152±$19kHighest 108% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$140,629±$8k 74% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $680,500±$19kHighest 105% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$593,700±$17k 78% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,394±$328Highest 69% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$2,062±$151 46% above U.S. |
| Wilmington and Chelmsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,704Lowest 147% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,047 158% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 60.9%±2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
51.7%±10Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wilmington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.7%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±2.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Chelmsford 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 | #73 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #79 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Wilmington | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Chelmsford |
| High school in town | Wilmington High | Exeter High School | Chelmsford High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.1Lowest |
12.1 |
14.0Highest |
| 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.