Compare towns
Newton vs Exeter vs Strafford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Strafford has the most affordable homes ($428k 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 | Newton | Exeter | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
16,151Highest |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Newton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$427,900±$29kLowest 6% above NH |
| Newton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96 13% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% 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 | $8,124 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Strafford 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 Our Story | 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.