Compare towns
Litchfield vs Exeter vs Pelham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Litchfield | Exeter | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,499Lowest |
16,151Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.5±2.7Lowest 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 46.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $485,000±$18k 20% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
| Litchfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,273Lowest 24% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham and Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Litchfield School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | Campbell High School | Exeter High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4 |
12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.