Compare towns
Exeter vs Danville vs Barnstead
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%).
Danville has the most homeowners (97.4%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k 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 | Danville | Barnstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,531Lowest |
4,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42±4Lowest 3% below NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.6%±7Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
| Danville and Barnstead 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% |
18.1%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 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% |
36.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 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 |
$115,104±$21kHighest 16% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
| Danville 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 |
$437,600±$26k 9% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Danville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,144±$867Highest 44% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
| Danville and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,504 28% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
70.2%±61.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Danville and Exeter 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
35 minHighest 30% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.4 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Danville 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 | #40 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Barnstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.