Compare towns
Madbury vs Canterbury vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Canterbury has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Madbury | Canterbury | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
2,353 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+1.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
48.6±3.8Highest 12% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.8%±3Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$129,333±$37k 31% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Madbury and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$443,700±$21kLowest 10% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Madbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$2,136±$233Highest 43% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$7,421Lowest 11% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
71.7%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Canterbury 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 | — | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Shaker Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None 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 | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.