Compare towns
Exeter vs Sullivan vs Swanzey
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Swanzey has the oldest population (median age 50).
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 | Sullivan | Swanzey |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
687Lowest |
7,398 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+0.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
46.6±6.5 8% above NH |
50±3.1Highest 15% above NH |
| Swanzey and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Swanzey 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 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.2%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Swanzey 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 NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
30.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 11% above NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$81,595±$11kLowest 18% below NH |
| Exeter and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$259,200±$15k 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,508±$303 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Swanzey are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$5,558 17% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.7%±19.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Swanzey and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
71.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
9.3%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #102 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | Monadnock Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.