Compare towns

Barrington vs Exeter vs Eliot

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).

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.

MeasureBarringtonExeterEliot
People
Population
9,489
16,151Highest
7,146Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
38.7±2.3Lowest
about the U.S. average
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
50.8±5.9Highest
31% above U.S.
Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
23.7%±4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
16.3%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Barrington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
27.8%±6.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
42.4%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.3%±1.9
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
2%±1.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,323±$14k
37% above U.S.
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$101,522±$10kLowest
26% above U.S.
Exeter and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$399,100±$30kLowest
20% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,867±$194
32% above U.S.
$1,856±$223Lowest
31% above U.S.
$1,948±$471Highest
38% above U.S.
Eliot and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,121
128% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,549Lowest
46% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.1%±25.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
55.1%±20.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Barrington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
7.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
87%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1987Highest
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
23 minLowest
15% below U.S.
Work from home
18.7%±4.1
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.4%±4.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Barrington 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 #22 of 120 in NH #19 of 133 in ME
School district Barrington School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District RSU 35/MSAD 35
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

U.S. 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.