Compare towns
Chatham vs Exeter vs Jackson
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 most renters (30.9% rent).
Jackson has the most expensive homes ($719k 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 | Chatham | Exeter | Jackson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 430Lowest |
16,151Highest |
897 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.3±8.6 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
60.5±2.5Highest 40% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±7.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest 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% |
28.4%±6.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Jackson 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
67.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±3.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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±$19kLowest 33% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,986±$46kHighest 19% above NH |
| Jackson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $362,900±$42kLowest 10% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$719,300±$109kHighest 79% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,750±$1kLowest 17% above NH |
| Exeter and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,690Lowest 45% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,001 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±100 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Chatham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1980Highest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.3%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Jackson and Exeter 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 | Jackson 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.