Compare towns
Exeter vs Ryegate vs Sheffield
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%).
Ryegate has the most kids (23.2% under 18).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k 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 | Ryegate | Sheffield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,059 |
573Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42±8 8% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sheffield 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% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Sheffield 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% |
22.1%±1.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Ryegate 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sheffield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15k 18% below U.S. |
$58,333±$26kLowest 28% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$219,300±$32k 34% below U.S. |
$171,900±$50kLowest 48% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$967±$79 32% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,472 11% above U.S. |
$2,123Lowest 32% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.5%±41.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sheffield 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
6.1%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.