Compare towns
Worcester vs Exeter vs Stowe vs Calais
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Calais has the youngest population (median age 42).
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 | Worcester | Exeter | Stowe | Calais |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 831Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,285 |
1,713 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
42±8.6Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Calais and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,161 130% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Calais are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Stowe Town School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Stowe High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.3Lowest |
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| 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.