Compare towns
Exeter vs Starks vs Mapleton
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%).
Starks has the most affordable homes ($149k median).
Mapleton has the most kids (22.2% under 18).
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 | Starks | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
556Lowest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
46.7±9.4Highest 20% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Starks 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 U.S.: 22% |
16.4%±4.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Exeter 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% |
20.3%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Starks 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% |
21%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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. |
$63,500±$8kLowest 21% below U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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. |
$148,500±$27kLowest 55% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23k 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,063±$301 25% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$1,348Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,789 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.5%±90.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Starks 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% |
19.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
3.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8 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 | — | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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.