Compare towns
Barnstead vs Brookline 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).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Brookline | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
5,736 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Barnstead 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% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Barnstead 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% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Exeter 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 |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Brookline 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Barnstead 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% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline 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 | #23 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Brookline 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 | None yet | 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.