Compare towns
Exeter vs Hill vs Sanbornton
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%).
Hill has the most affordable homes ($312k median).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
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 | Hill | Sanbornton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
908Lowest |
3,053 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.1±6.8Highest 13% above NH |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
| Hill and Exeter 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% |
10.9%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Exeter 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% |
28.5%±2.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hill 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% |
30.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$82,125±$21kLowest 17% below NH |
$113,750±$41kHighest 15% above NH |
| Sanbornton 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±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$311,700±$41kLowest 23% below NH |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
| Exeter and Sanbornton 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 |
— | $1,289±$198Lowest 14% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,933Lowest 26% below NH |
$5,731 14% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Sanbornton 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% |
9.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
35 minHighest 32% above NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Sanbornton 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 | — | #42 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hill School District | Winnisquam Regional 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.