Compare towns
Bristol vs Exeter vs Suncook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
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 | Bristol | Exeter | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,432 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below 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% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest 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 |
$79,836±$25k 19% below NH |
| Exeter and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$361,100±$22k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,975 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Suncook 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 → | 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.