Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs South Eliot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Exeter | South Eliot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,151Highest |
4,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 47% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.5±8Highest 43% above U.S. |
| South Eliot 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.2%±4.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
32.8%±6.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| South Eliot 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21kHighest 54% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$99,299±$9kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| 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 52% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$475,600±$52k 43% above U.S. |
| Durham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,155±$292Highest 53% above U.S. |
| South Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,442Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64.3%±29.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Durham and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
21 min 22% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±4.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Durham 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.