Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Exeter vs Madbury
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%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Center Harbor | Exeter | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,203 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Exeter 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% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Madbury and Center Harbor 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 |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Madbury 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% 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 | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minHighest 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Madbury 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 | Oyster River Coop 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.