Compare towns
Exeter vs Salisbury vs Newfields
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%).
Salisbury has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Salisbury | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,609Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Salisbury and Exeter 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% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury and Exeter 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% |
37.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$111,591±$17k 13% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$363,400±$47kLowest 10% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Salisbury and Newfields 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 |
$5,859Lowest 12% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
95.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Salisbury 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.