Compare towns
Exeter vs Northwood vs Barrington
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%).
Northwood has the highest household income ($129k).
Barrington has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
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 | Northwood | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,688Lowest |
9,489 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.4±7.8 about the NH average |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Exeter and Northwood 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% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Northwood 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% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Northwood 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% |
38.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Barrington 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 |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Northwood 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±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$363,000±$13kLowest 10% below NH |
$399,100±$30k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,201±$372Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington 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 |
$5,806Lowest 13% below NH |
$7,121 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Barrington 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% |
7.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
87% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Northwood 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 | #24 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.5Lowest |
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| 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.