Compare towns
Exeter vs Nottingham vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
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).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Nottingham | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
5,357Lowest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
38.8±6.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
44.7±4 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.9%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Nottingham and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Nottingham 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 37% above U.S. |
$122,201±$20kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Nottingham 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 37% above U.S. |
$457,500±$26kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,068±$1kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,319 135% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
92.1%±44.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1992Highest 12 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nottingham School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.