Compare towns
Exeter vs Derry vs Cornish
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%).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Cornish has the most homeowners (94.1%).
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 | Derry | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
34,116Highest |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish 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% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Exeter 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% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$108,944±$7k 10% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry 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 |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry 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 |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Exeter and Derry 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 |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry 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% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Cornish School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Pinkerton Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.