Compare towns
Barnstead 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
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Barnstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% 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 | $1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest 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 | #111 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school 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 | 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.