Compare towns
Concord vs Exeter vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Pelham has the most kids (22% 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 | Concord | Exeter | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 44,375Highest |
16,151 |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.7±1.3Lowest 6% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±1.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 18.7%±1.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6%±0.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,902±$5kLowest 14% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $350,900±$13kLowest 13% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,441±$43 3% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,227Lowest 8% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 56.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #89 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Concord High School | Exeter High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Highest |
12.1 |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.