Compare towns
Epping vs Rye 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
Epping has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | Epping | Rye | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,430 |
5,611Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +11.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±3.5Lowest 4% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±4.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Epping and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.6%±5.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±3.3 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Epping are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,220±$7kLowest 5% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Rye and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,900±$35kLowest 9% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,742±$576Lowest 17% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,936Lowest 4% above NH |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.8%±25.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Epping and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 24%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Epping 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 | #77 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Epping School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Epping High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 9.3Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.