Compare towns
Canterbury vs Durham vs Exeter vs Sutton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Canterbury has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Canterbury | Durham | Exeter | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,353 |
10,681 |
16,151Highest |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Canterbury and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 49.3% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Sutton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.4% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Exeter High School | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.