Compare towns
Exeter vs Meredith vs Sumner
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the youngest population (median age 52.6).
Meredith has the most expensive homes ($480k median).
Sumner has the most kids (17.2% 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 | Exeter | Meredith | Sumner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,093 |
6,758Highest |
845Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -11.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 52.6±7.7Lowest 35% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
56.1±8.4Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Sumner and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 9%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±6.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sumner and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.9%±11.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±5.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Sumner are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 15%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $84,408±$12k 5% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kHighest 8% above U.S. |
$57,750±$19kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $166,700±$39k 50% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$150,000±$73kLowest 55% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $995±$386Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304Highest 19% below U.S. |
— |
| Meredith and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $1,602Lowest 49% below U.S. |
$5,006Highest 61% above U.S. |
$2,167 31% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±73.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
100%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sumner and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 33% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
42 minHighest 60% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 10.3%±5.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith and Sumner 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 10 |
| High school in town | — | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.