Compare towns
Exeter vs Strafford vs Thetford
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%).
Strafford has the most kids (23% under 18).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | Strafford | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,372Lowest |
2,813 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford 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% |
22.1%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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 37% above U.S. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
$1,141±$96 19% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±48Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Thetford 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% |
5.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
23 min 13% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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 | — | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Strafford School District | Thetford 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 |
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.