Compare towns
Exeter vs Thornton vs Sutton
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%).
Sutton has the most kids (20.5% 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 | Thornton | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,799 |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
| Thornton and Sutton 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% |
20.5%±3.8Highest 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% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9 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% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
| Sutton and Exeter 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 |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$362,600±$16k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above 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 |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Exeter 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 | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
| 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.