Compare towns
Meredith vs Newton 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
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
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 | Meredith | Newton | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
4,836Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
| Meredith and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Newton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Newton 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 12% below NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Newton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Meredith and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,124 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8% NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
| 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.