Compare towns
Exeter vs Surry vs Webster
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 the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Surry has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Webster has the most kids (22.6% 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 | Surry | Webster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,052Lowest |
2,227 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12% NH: +4.6% |
+2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Surry 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% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Surry 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% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
30.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry 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±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$107,171±$14kLowest 8% above NH |
| Exeter and Surry 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 |
$331,400±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,396±$622Lowest 6% below NH |
| Surry and Exeter 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 |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Webster 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% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
31 minHighest 14% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Webster 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 | — | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.