What stands out worked out from the figures below

Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k 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	Bristol	Exeter
People
Population	3,273Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%
Median age	42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average	45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH
	Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2%	17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%
	Bristol and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	23.2%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1%	24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1%
	Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6%	59.2%Highest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6%	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%
	Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH	$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH	$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH	$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$4,162Lowest 38% below NH	$8,814Highest 32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2%	59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2%
	Exeter and Bristol 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	69.7%Highest NH: 72.8%	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH	1979Highest same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	28 minHighest 4% above NH	25 minLowest 7% below NH
Work from home	11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%	19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8%
	Exeter and Bristol 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	#79 of 120 in NH	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	Newfound Area School District	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Newfound Regional High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	11.5Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	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.