Compare towns
Chatham vs Exeter vs Conway
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).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Conway has the shortest commute (21 min average).
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 | Exeter | Conway |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
16,151Highest |
10,141 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
55±4.1Highest 27% 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.4%±2.4Lowest 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% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
35.1%±5.1Highest 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5%±3Lowest 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 |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$64,385±$8kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42k 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$314,000±$43kLowest 22% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,095±$141Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,087 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.3%±13.9 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% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 23% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±4.6 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #76 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Conway School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Kennett High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| 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.