Compare towns
Pelham vs Exeter vs Barrington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the highest household income ($136k).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Barrington has the most affordable homes ($399k 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 | Pelham | Exeter | Barrington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
16,151Highest |
9,489Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
38.7±2.3Lowest 11% below NH |
| Exeter and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Barrington and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$110,323±$14kLowest 11% above NH |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$399,100±$30kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,867±$194Highest 25% above NH |
| Barrington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,121Lowest 7% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.1%±25.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Barrington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #48 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #65 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barrington School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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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.