Compare towns
Exeter vs Keene vs Meredith
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).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,939Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Keene 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% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
| Meredith and Exeter 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 |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Meredith 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Exeter 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 | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Keene High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.