Compare towns
Madbury vs Exeter vs Litchfield
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).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Litchfield has the highest household income ($162k).
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 | Exeter | Litchfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,203Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,499 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.1±1.7 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Litchfield 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%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Madbury and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.6% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Litchfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $148,365±$30k 50% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$162,036±$11kHighest 64% above NH |
| Litchfield and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$485,000±$18kHighest 20% above NH |
| Litchfield and Madbury 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,138±$406Highest 43% above NH |
| Litchfield 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 |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,273Lowest 24% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
81.5%±38.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Litchfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 14%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Litchfield 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 | #53 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Litchfield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Campbell High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| 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.