What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

Hillsborough has the most affordable homes ($272k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Exeter	Hillsborough
People
Population	16,151Highest	5,980Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6%	-1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6%
Median age	45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH	40.9±4.6Lowest 6% below NH
	Exeter and Hillsborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2%	17.4%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2%
	Hillsborough 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%	16.4%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	59.2%Highest NH: 40.6%	23.9%Lowest NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6%	2.6%±1.6Lowest NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH	$84,495±$12kLowest 15% below NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH	$272,300±$16kLowest 32% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH	$1,198±$390Lowest 20% below NH
Property taxmedian, yearly	$8,814Highest 32% above NH	$5,815Lowest 13% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2%	61.7%±23.1Highest NH: 48.2%
	Hillsborough and Exeter 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%	6%Highest NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8%	92.3%Highest NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year	1979Highest same as NH	1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	25 minLowest 7% below NH	41 minHighest 54% above NH
Work from home	19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8%	14%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8%
	Exeter and Hillsborough 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	#97 of 120 in NH
School district	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District	Hillsboro-Deering Cooperative School District
High school in town	Exeter High School	Hillsboro-Deering High School
Students per teacherat that high school	12.1Highest	9.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	59 photos →	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.