Compare towns
Exeter vs Manchester vs New Boston
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 the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
New Boston has the most kids (27.2% 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 | Manchester | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
115,643Highest |
6,165Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
| New Boston 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 |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Manchester 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | New Boston School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 6 photos → | 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.