Compare towns
Exeter vs Mapleton vs Meredith vs Union
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Union has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Mapleton | Meredith | Union |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,884Lowest |
6,758 |
2,663 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
41.6±5.3Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Union and Mapleton 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% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.4%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19k 8% above U.S. |
$80,724±$9kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$267,600±$42k 20% below U.S. |
| 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 31% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,179±$452 17% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$3,276 5% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.6%±19.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | RSU 40/MSAD 40 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.