Compare towns

Exeter vs White River Junction vs Keene

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 the most expensive homes ($457k median).
White River Junction has the most renters (56.1% rent).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).

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.

MeasureExeterWhite River JunctionKeene
People
Population
16,151
3,364Lowest
22,939Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.8%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
33.7±3.2Lowest
13% below U.S.
37.6±2.3
3% below U.S.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
17.1%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 22%
White River Junction 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
U.S.: 17.2%
12.5%±3.6Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
38.9%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
1.2%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
13.8%±1.4Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,346±$13kHighest
37% above U.S.
$77,168±$4kLowest
4% below U.S.
$78,445±$8k
about the U.S. average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$278,800±$78k
16% below U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,222±$216Lowest
14% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$5,651Lowest
81% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.9%±17.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.5%±6.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Keene 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%
12.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
43.9%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Highest
1 yr older than U.S.
1963
17 yrs older than U.S.
1961Lowest
19 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 minHighest
6% below U.S.
15 minLowest
42% below U.S.
17 min
35% below U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
15.7%±5.8
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and White River Junction 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 — #81 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District — Keene School District
High school in town Exeter High School — Keene High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
—
12.3Highest
On TownTapestry
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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.