Compare towns
Exeter vs Barnstead vs Keene
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 homeowners (93.6%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
4,994Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Barnstead 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Barnstead 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$111,660±$12kHighest 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Barnstead and Exeter 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±$25k 10% below NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barnstead School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| 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.