Compare towns
Exeter vs Newton vs Sutton
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%).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Newton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,836 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Newton 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% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Newton 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% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
| Newton and Sutton 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 |
$459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Newton 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 |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$1,656±$614Lowest 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Newton 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 |
$8,124 22% above NH |
$7,652Lowest 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newton 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.