Compare towns
Exeter vs Thornton vs Rumney vs Newfields
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%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
Rumney has the most affordable homes ($310k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Thornton | Rumney | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,799 |
1,458Lowest |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+1.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
44.5±2.3 about the NH average |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| Thornton 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Rumney 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% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.1%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Rumney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
41.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2.3 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$90,022±$17k 9% below NH |
$79,444±$21kLowest 20% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$351,900±$20k 13% below NH |
$309,800±$37kLowest 23% below NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,270±$428 15% below NH |
$1,064±$100Lowest 29% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$5,032 25% below NH |
$4,716Lowest 29% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
48.1%±21.3 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Thornton 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% |
9.2% NH: 7.2% |
10.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
77.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Newfields 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Thornton School District | Rumney School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.