Compare towns
Exeter vs Nelson vs Newington
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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
648Lowest |
939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Exeter 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% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1% NH: 40.6% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Newington and Exeter 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 |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Exeter 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 |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Exeter 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% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% 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 minHighest 7% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | Newington 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.