Compare towns
Exeter vs Franklin vs Sheldon
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%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($247k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,590Lowest |
2,267 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.8±6.9Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.3%±1.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
21.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Franklin and Exeter 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 37% above U.S. |
$79,917±$21k about the U.S. average |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$247,400±$66kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$891±$266Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Sheldon 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. |
$3,384Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$3,578 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±42.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
74.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 4% below U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.1%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Franklin 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 | Missisquoi Valley School District #89 | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| 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 |
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.