Compare towns

Brentwood vs Exeter vs Hartford

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

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).

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.

MeasureBrentwoodExeterHartford
People
Population
4,641Lowest
16,151Highest
10,736
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+0.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+7.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.8±3.1
13% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
43.2±3.9Lowest
11% above U.S.
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%±4.1Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3
U.S.: 22%
Brentwood and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.8%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.5%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
49%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
47.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.6%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.9%±1.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Exeter and Hartford 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
105% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$78,125±$7kLowest
3% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$528,100±$75kHighest
59% above U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$304,500±$26kLowest
8% below U.S.
Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,217±$654Highest
57% above U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$1,218±$118Lowest
14% below U.S.
Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,713Highest
211% above U.S.
$8,814
183% above U.S.
$5,773Lowest
85% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
63.9%±37.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
44.6%±12.7Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
96%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
67.8%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1995Highest
15 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
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
18 minLowest
30% below U.S.
Work from home
23.1%±8.5Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
13.9%±3.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Brentwood 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 #16 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH #34 of 70 in VT
School district Brentwood School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Hartford School District
High school in town None in town Exeter High School Hartford High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Highest
9.6Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 6 photos → 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.