Compare towns
Exeter vs Keene vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Johnson has the most kids (22.7% under 18).
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 | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,939Highest |
3,450Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3 3% below U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Johnson and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Keene 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 | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| 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 |
U.S. 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.