Compare towns
Exeter vs Strong vs Sullivan
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%).
Strong has the most affordable homes ($184k median).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (85.2%).
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 | Strong | Sullivan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,249 |
1,246Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
47.5±8.9Highest 22% above U.S. |
47.1±15 21% above U.S. |
| Strong and Sullivan 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% |
19.5%±3.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Strong and Sullivan 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%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±2.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Sullivan 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% |
26.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Sullivan 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. |
$47,557±$10kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$59,643±$14k 26% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$183,900±$29kLowest 45% below U.S. |
$222,000±$33k 33% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$920±$276 35% below U.S. |
$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$1,950Lowest 37% below U.S. |
$2,228 29% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
20.9%±52.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±23.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Sullivan 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% |
13.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
13.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
18.5%±9.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Strong 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 | RSU 58/MSAD 58 | RSU 24 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Sumner Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.5Lowest |
| 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.