Compare towns

Exeter vs Sheffield vs Wheelock

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%).
Sheffield has the most affordable homes ($172k median).
Wheelock has the most homeowners (97.9%).

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.

MeasureExeterSheffieldWheelock
People
Population
16,151Highest
573Lowest
717
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3%
U.S.: +7.4%
-6.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
42±8Lowest
8% above U.S.
51±5.6Highest
31% above U.S.
Wheelock 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
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±6.6
U.S.: 22%
18.8%±3.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Wheelock and Sheffield 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%
19.2%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
29.4%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Wheelock 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%
27.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
34.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
2.8%±2.3Lowest
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.
$58,333±$26kLowest
28% below U.S.
$64,792±$20k
20% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$171,900±$50kLowest
48% below U.S.
$189,600±$37k
43% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$967±$79Lowest
32% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$2,123Lowest
32% below U.S.
$2,937
6% below U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3
U.S.: 51.1%
61.5%±41.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±100Lowest
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%
6.6%
U.S.: 12.5%
8.7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
83.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
97.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
1 yr older than U.S.
1987
7 yrs newer than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
6% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
28 min
4% above U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
6.1%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21.1%±16Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Wheelock 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 — —
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.