Compare towns
Chatham vs Conway vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chatham has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Conway has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
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 | Chatham | Conway | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
10,141 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | -2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
55±4.1Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
| Conway and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Chatham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 26.5%±10 NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Conway and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.4% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
5%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $66,042±$19k 33% below NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$4,087 39% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Conway are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Conway 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 | — | #76 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Conway School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | — | Kennett High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.