Compare towns
Newark vs Exeter vs Brighton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newark has the most homeowners (90.8%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Brighton has the most affordable homes ($164k median).
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 | Newark | Exeter | Brighton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 727Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,167 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.4±6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.2±11.6 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±3Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.3%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Newark and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.9%±5.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Brighton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
25.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.6%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,929±$7k 10% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$47,375±$21kLowest 41% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $229,900±$23k 31% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$163,900±$39kLowest 51% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,708±$97 21% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$775±$33Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Newark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,771 21% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,360Lowest 8% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 7.1%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Brighton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 22.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
22% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
51.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Highest same as U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1967Lowest 13 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 28% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 25% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.8%±8.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.4%±8.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Newark 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 | Kingdom East Unified Union School District #64 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brighton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| 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.