Compare towns
Enfield vs Exeter vs Keene vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the most homeowners (82.1%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Enfield | Exeter | Keene | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475Lowest |
16,151 |
22,939Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Enfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Exeter and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$71k about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Meredith and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203 7% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1% NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 11% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Keene High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
12.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.