Compare towns
Barnstead vs Exeter vs New Boston
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).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
New Boston has the highest household income ($154k).
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 | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below 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% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
| New Boston 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 |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | New Boston School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| 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.