Compare towns
Exeter vs Fitzwilliam vs Salisbury
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%).
Fitzwilliam has the most affordable homes ($306k median).
Salisbury has the most kids (20.1% under 18).
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 | Fitzwilliam | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,278 |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
49.2±4.2 14% above NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
| Salisbury and Fitzwilliam 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% |
15.1%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27%±3.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Fitzwilliam and Salisbury 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% |
37.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$100,735±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
| Salisbury 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 |
$305,900±$34kLowest 24% below NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
— | $1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
| Salisbury 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 |
$5,173Lowest 22% below NH |
$5,859 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±51.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Fitzwilliam 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 NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.2% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
39 minHighest 48% above NH |
32 min 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±4.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Monadnock Regional School District | Merrimack Valley 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 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.