Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Exeter vs Harrisville
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 oldest population (median age 60.4).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Harrisville has the most affordable homes ($431k 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 | Harrisville |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955 |
16,151Highest |
885Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
58.9±5.5 36% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Harrisville 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% |
16.4%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
35.8%±10.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$103,036±$13kLowest 4% above 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 |
$430,500±$48kLowest 7% above 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±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,611±$367Lowest 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,329 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
35%±90.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Harrisville 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Harrisville 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 | Harrisville 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.