Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Exeter vs Freedom
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the most expensive homes ($464k median).
Exeter has the most kids (17% under 18).
Freedom has the most affordable homes ($389k median).
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 | Center Harbor | Exeter | Freedom |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,494 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8 39% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
60.6±3.2Highest 40% above NH |
| Freedom and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Freedom are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
40.3%±4.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Freedom and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.5 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$66,136±$14kLowest 33% below NH |
| Exeter and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$389,000±$43kLowest 3% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$3,478Lowest 48% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
79.6%±75Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Freedom and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.5%±7.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Freedom 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 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Freedom School District |
| High school 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.