Compare towns
Exeter vs Swanton vs Sheldon
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%).
Swanton has the most affordable homes ($229k median).
Sheldon has the most homeowners (89%).
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 | Swanton | Sheldon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,670 |
2,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
37.8±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Sheldon 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% |
24.3%±8.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Swanton and Sheldon 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% |
19.3%±2.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Swanton 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% |
20.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.2%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$66,607±$27kLowest 17% below U.S. |
$78,533±$25k about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Sheldon 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. |
$229,000±$15kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,238±$103Lowest 12% below U.S. |
$1,286±$379 9% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Sheldon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,370 40% above U.S. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±21.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Swanton 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% |
20.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
64.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 minLowest 19% below U.S. |
25 minHighest 5% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Sheldon 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 | — | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.