Compare towns
Northfield vs Exeter vs Franklin
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Franklin has the most affordable homes ($262k 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 | Northfield | Exeter | Franklin |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971Lowest |
16,151Highest |
8,799 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.7±2 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.3%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.2%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$71,648±$4kLowest 28% below NH |
| Exeter and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$262,200±$22kLowest 35% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,110±$68 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097 24% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,886Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.8%±11.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Franklin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #109 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #112 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Franklin School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Franklin High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
16.2Highest |
| 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.