Compare towns
Barnstead vs Exeter vs New Boston vs Nottingham
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).
Nottingham has the most homeowners (94.3%).
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 | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,994Lowest |
16,151Highest |
6,165 |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% 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 |
38.8±6.7Lowest 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% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Nottingham 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% |
18.4%±4.2 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% |
40.9% 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% |
5.9%±2.6 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 |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
| New Boston and Nottingham 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 |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
| New Boston and Nottingham 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±$223 24% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1989 10 yrs newer than NH |
1992Highest 13 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 |
34 min 27% 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% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #111 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | New Boston School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.