Compare towns
Exeter vs Keene vs Chester
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | Keene | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,939Highest |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
| Chester 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester 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% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,812Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Chester 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
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| 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.