Compare towns
Canterbury vs Exeter vs Thornton
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 highest household income ($129k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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 | Thornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,353Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.6±3.8 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
| Thornton and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±4.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Canterbury and Exeter 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%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest 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±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter 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 |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% 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 |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below 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 |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7Lowest 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Canterbury 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 | #18 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Shaker Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Thornton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.