Compare towns
Barrington vs Durham vs Exeter 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
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Nottingham has the most people working from home (22.2%).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Barrington | Durham | Exeter | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,489 |
10,681 |
16,151Highest |
5,357Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.7±2.3 11% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
| Nottingham and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
| Durham and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,867±$194 25% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.1% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 87% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.7%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #65 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Barrington School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nottingham 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 | 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.