Compare towns
Exeter vs Keene vs Sullivan vs Wilder
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 the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Keene has the youngest population (median age 37.6).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | Sullivan | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,939Highest |
687Lowest |
3,087 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
46.6±6.5Highest 20% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Sullivan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8k about the U.S. average |
$106,667±$20k 32% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$236,500±$29kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$273,200±$18k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$1,225±$275 13% below U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$5,099Lowest 63% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±84.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983Highest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
17 min 35% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 22% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Keene High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.