What stands out worked out from the figures below

Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($222k 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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Sullivan	Exeter
People
Population	1,246Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	-1.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	47.1±15Highest 21% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Lowest 18% above U.S.
	Sullivan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	18%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
	Sullivan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+	22.5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
	Exeter and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	26%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.1%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$59,643±$14kLowest 26% below U.S.	$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$222,000±$33kLowest 33% below U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$883±$114Lowest 38% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$2,228Lowest 29% below U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	34.9%±23.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
	Exeter and Sullivan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line	13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1981Highest 1 yr newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	26 minHighest about the U.S. average	25 minLowest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	12.6%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1%
	Exeter and Sullivan 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	RSU 24	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Sumner Memorial High School	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	10.5Lowest	12.1Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History	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.