Compare towns
Exeter vs Sanbornton vs Cornish
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%).
Sanbornton has the youngest population (median age 41.9).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k 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 | Sanbornton | Cornish |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,053 |
1,816Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.9±5.4Lowest 3% below NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
| Cornish and Exeter 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% |
18.1%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sanbornton and Exeter 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% |
21.5%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.9%±1.4 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$113,750±$41kHighest 15% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
| Sanbornton 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 |
$452,300±$30k 12% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
| Exeter and Sanbornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,289±$198 14% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,731Lowest 14% below NH |
$5,796 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
29.3%±23.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Cornish 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% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.9% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.8%±6.1 NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Sanbornton 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 | #42 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Winnisquam Regional School District | Cornish 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.