Compare towns
Barnstead vs Exeter vs Keene vs Newfields
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 kids (21% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Exeter | Keene | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994 |
16,151 |
22,939Highest |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Newfields 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Keene and Newfields 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 |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25k 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.