Compare towns
Roxbury vs Exeter vs Harrisville vs Nelson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Roxbury has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Harrisville has the oldest population (median age 58.9).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% 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 | Roxbury | Exeter | Harrisville | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 299Lowest |
16,151Highest |
885 |
648 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.2±17.7 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
58.9±5.5Highest 36% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±11.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.4%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±10.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
35.8%±10.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
| Harrisville and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.8% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.4%±15.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
1.7%±1.2 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Roxbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $69,226±$14kLowest 30% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$103,036±$13k 4% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Exeter and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $323,100±$219kLowest 20% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$430,500±$48k 7% above NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
| Exeter and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,611±$367 8% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Exeter and Harrisville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,787 13% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,329Lowest 20% below NH |
$5,575 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
35%±90.4 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.6% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
94.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1965Lowest 14 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 21 minLowest 22% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 0.7%±1.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Harrisville School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.