Compare towns

Eliot vs Keene 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

Eliot has the most expensive homes ($499k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Eliot has the oldest population (median age 55.5).

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.

MeasureEliotKeeneExeterSouth Eliot
People
Population
7,146
22,939Highest
16,151
4,203Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
50.8±5.9
31% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
55.5±8Highest
43% above U.S.
South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
15.2%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
27.8%±6.2
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
32.8%±6.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
43.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
49.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
2%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
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
$101,522±$10k
26% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$99,299±$9k
23% above U.S.
Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$498,900±$62kHighest
50% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$456,600±$21k
37% above U.S.
$475,600±$52k
43% above U.S.
Eliot and South Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,948±$471
38% above U.S.
$1,342±$68Lowest
5% below U.S.
$1,856±$223
31% above U.S.
$2,155±$292Highest
53% above U.S.
South Eliot and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,549
46% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$4,442Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
55.1%±20.1
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
64.3%±29.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
South Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
79.8%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
79.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1973
7 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
23 min
15% below U.S.
17 minLowest
35% below U.S.
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
21 min
22% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.2%±4.5Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Eliot 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 #81 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH —
School district RSU 35/MSAD 35 Keene School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District —
High school in town None in town Keene High School Exeter High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.3Highest
12.1Lowest
—
On TownTapestry
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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.