What stands out worked out from the figures below

Belmont has the most affordable homes ($316k median).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Belmont	Exeter
People
Population	7,392Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	47.2±3.5Highest 9% above NH	45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH
	Belmont and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18.4%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2%	17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Belmont and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.4%±4.1Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Exeter and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6%	59.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3%±1.8Lowest NH: 6%	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%
	Exeter and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$69,063±$21kLowest 30% below NH	$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$316,300±$31kLowest 21% below NH	$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$996±$129Lowest 33% below NH	$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$5,585Lowest 16% below NH	$8,814Highest 32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.8%±10.9Lowest NH: 48.2%	59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Exeter and Belmont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	10.3%Highest NH: 7.2%	4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	82.1%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH	1979Lowest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minHighest 6% below NH	25 minLowest 7% below NH
Work from home	9.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading	#92 of 120 in NH	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Shaker Regional School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Belmont High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.0Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	None yet	59 photos →

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.