Compare towns
Windham vs Exeter vs Chester vs Brookline
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the youngest population (median age 44.2).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Brookline has the most kids (20% 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 | Windham | Exeter | Chester | Brookline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 594 |
16,151Highest |
2,992 |
531Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.2±7.4Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.7±4.7Highest 28% above U.S. |
45.1±2.7 16% above U.S. |
| Chester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.5%±7.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Brookline and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±8.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.8%±7.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
33.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.2%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $94,500±$12k 17% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$62,125±$8kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$80,833±$16k about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $353,900±$20k 6% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$232,900±$44kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$290,700±$37k 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$960±$44Lowest 32% below U.S. |
$1,732±$232 23% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,951 91% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,262Lowest 37% above U.S. |
$5,000 60% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.2%±94 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
11.5%±12.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.8%±94.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Brookline are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14%±6.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Brookline and Windham 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 | #49 of 70 in VT | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Green Mountain Unified School District #77 | — |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Green Mountain Union High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
8.7Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.