Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
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 | Eliot | Exeter | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
16,151Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$135,956±$19kHighest 68% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$552,600±$27kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Pelham and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,425±$88Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.