Compare towns
Exeter vs Nottingham vs Durham
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%).
Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Nottingham | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
5,357Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.8±6.7 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Exeter and Nottingham 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% |
23.9%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nottingham and Exeter 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% |
18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Nottingham 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% |
40.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,201±$20k 23% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$457,500±$26k 14% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,068±$1kHighest 39% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Nottingham and Exeter 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 |
$7,319Lowest 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Durham 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nottingham School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.