Compare towns
Deerfield vs Exeter vs Brookline vs Nottingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Deerfield has the most affordable homes ($421k median).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Brookline has the highest household income ($171k).
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
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 | Deerfield | Exeter | Brookline | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,932Lowest |
16,151Highest |
5,736 |
5,357 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +13.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.8±4.2 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5 5% below NH |
38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Deerfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.9%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Brookline and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.5%±3.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $131,563±$10k 33% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $421,000±$33kLowest 5% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$544,400±$38kHighest 35% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,593±$318Lowest 7% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
| Brookline and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,369 11% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.4%±17.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5 NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
1.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1992 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
34 min 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.4%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Brookline and Deerfield 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 | #61 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Deerfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline School District | Nottingham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.