Compare towns
Exeter vs Castleton vs Portsmouth
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Castleton has the most affordable homes ($225k median).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
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 | Castleton | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
4,453Lowest |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.3±4.3Lowest about the U.S. average |
42.9±2 10% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
14%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
64%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
19.3%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$73,854±$23kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$106,219±$7k 32% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$224,800±$71kLowest 32% below U.S. |
$688,500±$39kHighest 107% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,137±$195Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,869±$111Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Portsmouth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,167Lowest about the U.S. average |
$8,018 157% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.7%±21.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.4%±7.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Castleton 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
51.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1959Lowest 21 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.2%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.9%±4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Portsmouth 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #39 of 70 in VT | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | 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.