Compare towns
Meredith vs Exeter vs Chapman
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Exeter has the highest household income ($110k).
Chapman has the most kids (27.6% under 18).
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 | Meredith | Exeter | Chapman |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
16,151Highest |
388Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.7±11.4Lowest 17% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.6%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Meredith and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
22.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$93,125±$17k 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Chapman are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 44% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$185,700±$22kLowest 44% below U.S. |
| Meredith and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006 61% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$1,850Lowest 41% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
4.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.