Compare towns
Exeter vs Sharon vs Keene
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%).
Sharon has the most kids (21% under 18).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
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 | Sharon | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
1,577Lowest |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.6±7.7 17% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
25.1%±3.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Sharon 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.5%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$84,375±$17k 5% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Sharon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$346,700±$37k 4% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,386±$155 about the U.S. average |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,903Lowest 89% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
19.8%±17.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Keene 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% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.7%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Keene 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 | — | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sharon School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| 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.