Compare towns
Alstead vs Bartlett vs Exeter vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
Bartlett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Exeter has the most kids (17% under 18).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Alstead | Bartlett | Exeter | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
3,281 |
16,151Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 56±3.3 29% above NH |
57.4±4.7Highest 33% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Bartlett and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
7.5%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
36.1%±9.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Bartlett and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
36.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
0.1%±0.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11k 35% below NH |
$59,754±$9kLowest 40% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
$371,400±$78k 8% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Meredith and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,676±$97 12% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Exeter and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 20% below NH |
$2,512Lowest 62% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,006 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
68.5%±37.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Bartlett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.9% NH: 7.2% |
10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76% NH: 72.8% |
79%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 19% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.5%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #74 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Bartlett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.