Compare towns
Middleton vs Exeter vs Effingham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Middleton has the most homeowners (96.5%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Effingham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+15.4%).
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 | Middleton | Exeter | Effingham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,595Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,912 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+15.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.5±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
46.9±12.4Highest 8% above NH |
| Effingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±4.2 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Effingham and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.9%±2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
18.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.1%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,696±$8k about the NH average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$76,607±$14kLowest 23% below NH |
| Exeter and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $312,300±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$322,700±$30k 20% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,500±$293 about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,090±$121Lowest 27% below NH |
| Exeter and Middleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,504 17% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,163Lowest 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 83.3%±100Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
13.6%±40.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Middleton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 39 minHighest 45% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 min 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.1%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.1%±4.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Effingham 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 | Middleton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.