Compare towns
Brentwood vs Deerfield vs Exeter vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Deerfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+13.4%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
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 | Brentwood | Deerfield | Exeter | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641 |
4,932 |
16,151Highest |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49% NH: 40.6% |
47.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
| Brentwood and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
| Brentwood and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,593±$318 7% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713 46% above NH |
$7,369Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
17.4%±17.6 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
34 minHighest 28% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Deerfield 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #61 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Deerfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | 6 photos → | 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.