Compare towns
Exeter vs Harrisville vs Sullivan
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%).
Harrisville has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
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 | Harrisville | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
885 |
687Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.4%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Harrisville 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% |
35.8%±10.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Harrisville 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% |
54.8% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sullivan 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 |
$103,036±$13kLowest 4% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Sullivan 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 |
$430,500±$48k 7% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
| Exeter and Harrisville 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 |
$1,611±$367 8% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
| Exeter and Harrisville 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 |
$5,329 20% below NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
35%±90.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Sullivan 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% |
3.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Harrisville 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 | Harrisville School District | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.