Compare towns
Barnstead vs Exeter vs Sanbornton
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,994 |
16,151Highest |
3,053Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% 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%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Sanbornton 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%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Sanbornton 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% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest 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 |
$113,750±$41kHighest 15% above NH |
| Sanbornton and Barnstead 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±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Exeter and Sanbornton 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 |
$1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,003 10% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest 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% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barnstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.