Compare towns
Hancock vs Exeter vs Wilmot
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hancock has the most homeowners (85.6%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Hancock | Exeter | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,791 |
16,151Highest |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.8±4.5Highest 24% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
53±2.4 22% above NH |
| Hancock and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wilmot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.2%±2.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,208±$15kLowest 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,759±$15kHighest 19% above NH |
| Wilmot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $436,700±$22k 8% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,208±$650 19% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Exeter and Hancock are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,884 3% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 32.4%±55.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Wilmot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 min 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.9%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Wilmot 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 | — |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.