Compare towns
Canterbury vs Exeter vs Cornish 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%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
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 | Exeter | Cornish | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,353 |
16,151Highest |
1,816Lowest |
2,239 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Cornish and Canterbury 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Exeter 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Canterbury 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below 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 | $7,421 11% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Cornish School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.