Compare towns
Exeter vs Nelson vs Langdon
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%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Langdon has the most affordable homes ($282k 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 | Nelson | Langdon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
648Lowest |
805 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
-5.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
42.3±12.6Lowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Nelson 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±7.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Langdon 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% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
26.2%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Langdon and Nelson 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Langdon 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 |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$97,917±$31kLowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$281,900±$18kLowest 30% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,417±$285 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Langdon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
$5,492Lowest 18% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±81.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Langdon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
91.4%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nelson School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Fall Mountain Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.7Highest |
| 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.