Compare towns
Nottingham vs Exeter vs Mason
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Nottingham has the youngest population (median age 38.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
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 | Nottingham | Exeter | Mason |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,357 |
16,151Highest |
1,451Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±6.7Lowest 10% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
43.7±2.3 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.9%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.4%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,201±$20kHighest 23% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
| Nottingham and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $457,500±$26kHighest 14% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
| Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,068±$1k 39% above NH |
$1,856±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
| Mason and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,319 10% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 92.1%±44.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Nottingham and Mason 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% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 94.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1992Highest 13 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 min 27% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±5.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Nottingham and Mason 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 | #15 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Nottingham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mason 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 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.