Compare towns

Exeter vs Sutton vs Goffstown

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%).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% under 18).
Goffstown has the youngest population (median age 41.3).

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.

MeasureExeterSuttonGoffstown
People
Population
16,151
2,239Lowest
18,513Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%
NH: +4.6%
+5.2%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.8±2.3
6% above NH
48.1±4.1Highest
11% above NH
41.3±3.1Lowest
5% below NH
Sutton 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
NH: 18.2%
20.5%±3.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
16%±2.5Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Sutton 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%
21.6%±5.9
NH: 20.1%
19%±2.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
Exeter and Sutton 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%
44.3%
NH: 40.6%
42.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
NH: 6%
4.9%±3.6Lowest
NH: 6%
14.5%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,346±$13kLowest
11% above NH
$130,313±$31kHighest
32% above NH
$113,958±$12k
15% above NH
Sutton and Goffstown 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
$362,600±$16kLowest
10% below NH
$377,400±$20k
6% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
24% above NH
$1,656±$614
11% above NH
$1,231±$161Lowest
17% below NH
Exeter and Sutton 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
$7,652
15% above NH
$6,941Lowest
4% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
NH: 48.2%
58.1%±20
NH: 48.2%
Exeter and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.8%
NH: 7.2%
6.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
same as NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1982Highest
3 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minLowest
7% below NH
29 minHighest
10% above NH
28 min
4% above NH
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.8%±5.6
NH: 16.8%
13.8%±2.2Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Exeter and Sutton 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 — #35 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Kearsarge Regional School District Goffstown School District
High school in town Exeter High School Kearsarge Regional High School Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1
10.4Lowest
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.