Compare towns
Nelson 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
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Canterbury has the highest household income ($129k).
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 | Nelson | Canterbury | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 648Lowest |
2,353 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+1.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
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 | 27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
22.9%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±2.1Lowest 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 | $99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$129,333±$37kHighest 31% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Canterbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$443,700±$21k 10% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
| Exeter and Canterbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,203±$243Lowest 19% below 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 | $5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$7,421 11% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±68.8Lowest 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 | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.2% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.6%±7.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Canterbury 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 | Nelson 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.