Compare towns
Brentwood vs Exeter vs Townsend
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%).
Townsend has the youngest population (median age 40.9).
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 | Exeter | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,641Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 13% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% 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% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Brentwood and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%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% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Townsend 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±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23k 51% above U.S. |
| Brentwood and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $528,100±$75kHighest 59% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kLowest 30% above 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. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above 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. |
$6,031Lowest 93% 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% |
50.6%±16.8Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 15 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest 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 | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| 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.