Compare towns
Durham vs Bethlehem 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Bethlehem | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
2,537Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
50.6±8.5Highest 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28.2%±5.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$85,029±$18kLowest 14% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$288,300±$22kLowest 28% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,174±$81Lowest 21% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,418Lowest 19% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.3%±18.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
20 min 24% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #34 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Profile Senior High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
8.9Lowest |
12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.