Compare towns
Barnstead vs Brentwood vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Barnstead | Brentwood | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
4,641Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Brentwood School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 59 photos → |
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.