Compare towns
Barton vs Exeter vs Stratham vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Barton has the most affordable homes ($147k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
Brighton has the most renters (48.9% rent).
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 | Barton | Exeter | Stratham | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 730Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,754 |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9 7% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 24.1%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3 U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Barton and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.2%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 21.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.9%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $40,833±$8kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21k 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $146,900±$30kLowest 56% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39k 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $761±$150Lowest 46% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$775±$33 45% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,185Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$3,360 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.8%±18.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 25.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 52.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1967 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.5%±10.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #38 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 6 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.