Compare towns
Andover vs Exeter vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Andover has the most homeowners (88.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
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 | Andover | Exeter | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,135Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46±11.6Highest 6% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
| Andover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 13.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Franklin and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 28.1%±7.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Andover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $88,514±$27k 11% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $366,500±$44k 9% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,211±$190 19% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,962 11% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.1%±8.3 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Andover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.7%±5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Andover 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 | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Andover School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.