Compare towns
Franklin vs Exeter vs Tilton
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 youngest population (median age 42.7).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Tilton has the most affordable homes ($217k 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.
| Measure | Franklin | Exeter | Tilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,799 |
16,151Highest |
4,063Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.3±8.5Highest 16% above NH |
| Tilton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.8%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
15.9%±5.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Franklin and Exeter 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% |
25.8%±5.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Tilton 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% |
30.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3%±2.6Lowest 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±$4k 28% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$66,667±$10kLowest 33% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $262,200±$22k 35% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$216,700±$66kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$68 26% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$948±$330Lowest 36% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,886 27% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$3,622Lowest 46% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 38.8%±11.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.8%±17 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Tilton 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% |
12.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 18% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.8%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #112 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #88 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Franklin School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | Franklin High School | Exeter High School | Winnisquam Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 16.2Highest |
12.1Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.