Compare towns
Pelham vs Hartford vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Pelham has the most homeowners (86.7%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Hartford | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 14,449 |
10,736Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.7Lowest 7% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Pelham and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hartford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.9%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 68% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
| 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 66% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,425±$88 about the U.S. average |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 67.3%±12.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 12% above U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pelham School District | Hartford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Pelham High School | Hartford High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
9.6Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.