Compare towns
Exeter vs Hanover vs Keene vs Brentwood
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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Brentwood has the most homeowners (96%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Keene | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
11,685 |
22,939Highest |
4,641Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Exeter 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$165,509±$23k 67% above NH |
| Hanover and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$2,217±$654 49% above NH |
| Hanover and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$9,713 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Brentwood 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
20 min 27% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Brentwood 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Keene School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hanover High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
10.7Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.