Compare towns
Otis vs Exeter vs Smithfield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Otis has the most homeowners (89.5%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Smithfield has the most affordable homes ($243k 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 | Otis | Exeter | Smithfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 705Lowest |
16,151Highest |
856 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 54.7±3.1 41% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S. |
55.8±3.5Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Smithfield and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.6%±7.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
10%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Exeter and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.9%±8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Smithfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $101,250±$27kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$107,917±$27k 34% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $282,500±$23k 15% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$242,800±$15kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,563±$734 11% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,109±$358Lowest 22% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Otis are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,263Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$2,866 8% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 35.7%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±45.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 42 minHighest 58% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
33 min 23% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 5.1%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
22%±7.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Smithfield and Exeter 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 | Otis Public Schools | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.