Compare towns
Brentwood vs Northwood vs Nottingham vs Exeter
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).
Northwood has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
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.
| Measure | Brentwood | Northwood | Nottingham | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,641Lowest |
4,688 |
5,357 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above 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% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest 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% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Nottingham 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 |
$129,375±$23k 31% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Brentwood and Northwood 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 |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Brentwood and Nottingham 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 |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Brentwood and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,319 10% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
89% NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1992 13 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Nottingham 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Brentwood School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Nottingham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | None yet | 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.