Compare towns
Fremont vs Exeter vs Barnstead vs Newton
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 the most renters (30.9% rent).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
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 | Fremont | Exeter | Barnstead | Newton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,831Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,994 |
4,836 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.3±3.4 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
| Newton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±5.9 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Barnstead and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.6%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.3% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $120,781±$18k 22% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
| Newton and Fremont are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $416,900±$31k 4% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
| Newton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,668±$795Highest 79% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,395±$75Lowest 6% below NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
| Fremont and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,954 4% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 94.2%±5.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Fremont and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 5.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Newton 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 | #91 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #70 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Fremont School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barnstead School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.



