Compare towns
Exeter vs Mont Vernon vs Newmarket vs Portsmouth
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%).
Mont Vernon has the highest household income ($158k).
Newmarket has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k 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 | Mont Vernon | Newmarket | Portsmouth |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
2,636Lowest |
9,463 |
22,545Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.9±2.8 about the NH average |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
42.9±2 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Mont Vernon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.1%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Mont Vernon and Exeter 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% |
15.6%±3.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.1%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
50.8% NH: 40.6% |
49.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±2.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$158,036±$19kHighest 60% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
$106,219±$7k 7% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$526,300±$39k 31% above NH |
$455,000±$22kLowest 13% above NH |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,104±$185Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,671±$69 12% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
| Portsmouth and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$9,432Highest 41% above NH |
$8,734 31% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.4%±80.8 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Mont Vernon 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% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.6%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Mont Vernon and Portsmouth 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 | #4 of 120 in NH | #39 of 120 in NH | #11 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mont Vernon School District | Newmarket School District | Portsmouth School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School | Portsmouth High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 9.9Lowest |
11.4 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.