Compare towns
Exeter vs Meredith vs Alstead
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%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Meredith | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
6,758 |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Alstead 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% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Alstead 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 11% above NH |
$87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% 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 |
$480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below 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 |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Exeter 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% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
76%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
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.