Compare towns
Sullivan vs Exeter vs Surry vs Gilsum
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Surry has the most kids (20.8% under 18).
Gilsum has the oldest housing (typical home built 1972).
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 | Sullivan | Exeter | Surry | Gilsum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 687Lowest |
16,151Highest |
1,052 |
716 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12% NH: +4.6% |
-7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
44.7±5.1Lowest 3% above NH |
44.8±8.1 3% above NH |
| Sullivan and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
12%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Surry and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
19.3%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31.7% NH: 40.6% |
18.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Surry and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$80,417±$7kLowest 19% below NH |
| Exeter and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$241,500±$32k 40% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,575±$894 6% above NH |
| Surry and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,384 4% below NH |
$5,579 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 40%±84.5 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.5%±55.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilsum and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±8.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Surry 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 | — | Monadnock Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | — | 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.