Compare towns
Exeter vs Henniker vs Nottingham
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 the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Henniker is a college town. 27% 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 | Henniker | Nottingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,197 |
5,357Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
| Exeter and Nottingham 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% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham 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% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Nottingham 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% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
$122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
| Nottingham 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
$457,500±$26kHighest 14% above NH |
| Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
| Nottingham and Exeter 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 |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Exeter 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% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #56 of 120 in NH | #15 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Henniker School District | Nottingham 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 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.