Compare towns
Franklin vs Exeter vs Salisbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Salisbury has the most homeowners (96.9%).
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 | Franklin | Exeter | Salisbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
16,151Highest |
1,609Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
51.5±4.5Highest 19% above NH |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.1%±9.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Salisbury and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.9%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$111,591±$17kHighest 13% above NH |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$363,400±$47k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,917±$632Highest 29% above NH |
| Salisbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,859 12% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
96.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 min 18% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.3%±10.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Salisbury 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 | #112 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Franklin School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.