Compare towns
Exeter vs Marlborough vs Bennington
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%).
Marlborough has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Bennington has the most kids (26% 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 | Marlborough | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,207 |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
46±9.2Highest 6% above NH |
42.1±7.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Marlborough and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.7 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.7%±1.7 NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5% NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$69,032±$9kLowest 30% below NH |
$83,875±$7k 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$267,200±$35kLowest 34% below NH |
$267,300±$15k 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,133±$323Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,292±$150 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,362 5% below NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±25.3 NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Marlborough are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 21% below NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.3%±6.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Bennington 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Marlborough School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.