Compare towns
Exeter vs Barnstead vs Candia
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Barnstead has the most kids (21% under 18).
Candia has the highest household income ($120k).
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 | Barnstead | Candia |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,994 |
4,134Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
48.3±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
| Candia and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.8%±3.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.1%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
5.7%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$119,737±$37kHighest 21% above NH |
| Candia and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$415,600±$46k 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Candia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,213±$554Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,100 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
0%±21.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
91.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
34 minHighest 29% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
10.8%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Barnstead 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #41 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barnstead School District | Candia School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.