Compare towns
Surry vs Exeter vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Surry has the most homeowners (91.6%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k median).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Surry | Exeter | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052Lowest |
16,151 |
22,939Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.8%±6.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest 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+ | 23.3%±7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±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+ | 31.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Keene and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% 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 | $331,400±$23k 18% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Surry and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,384Lowest 4% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 min 18% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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 | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
| 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.