Compare towns
Exeter vs Franklin vs Northfield
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%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Northfield has the most kids (20.3% 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 | Franklin | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,799 |
4,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.7±2 about the NH average |
42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Franklin 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% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Franklin 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% |
21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Franklin 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% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
23.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Exeter and Northfield 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 |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
$288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,110±$68 26% below NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$5,097 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Franklin 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% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #112 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Franklin School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Franklin High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
16.2Highest |
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| 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.