Compare towns
Exeter vs Jefferson vs Unity
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%).
Unity has the most affordable homes ($276k 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 | Jefferson | Unity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,013Lowest |
1,375 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.8% NH: +4.6% |
-9.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
58±3.5Highest 34% above NH |
58±4.5Highest 34% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.5%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Jefferson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±9.1 NH: 20.1% |
34.9%±7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Unity and Jefferson 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% |
28.4% NH: 40.6% |
21.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.5 NH: 6% |
1%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$67,188±$13kLowest 32% below NH |
$87,500±$16k 12% below NH |
| Exeter and Unity 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 |
$296,700±$92k 26% below NH |
$276,100±$29kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$867±$156Lowest 42% below NH |
$1,625±$804 9% above NH |
| Exeter and Unity 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 |
$4,196Lowest 37% below NH |
$5,394 19% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±71.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Unity 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% |
8.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.5% NH: 72.8% |
94.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
35 min 29% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Jefferson 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 | — | Unity 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 History | 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.