Compare towns
Exeter vs Newfields vs Newington vs Swanzey
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%).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Swanzey has the most affordable homes ($259k 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 | Newfields | Newington | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,023 |
939Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Swanzey and Newington 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Exeter 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
62.4% NH: 40.6% |
30.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Newfields and Newington 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 |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$259,200±$15kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,508±$303Lowest about the NH average |
| Newington and Newfields 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
$5,558Lowest 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44 NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Newington 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% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
86.9% NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — | — | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfields School District | Newington School District | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.8Highest |
| 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.