Compare towns
Surry vs Nelson vs Exeter
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 shortest commute (22 min average).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k 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 | Nelson | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,052 |
648Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±5.1 3% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above 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%±6.2 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Surry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.3%±7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson and Exeter 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% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.6%±6.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 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 | $110,125±$25k 11% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above 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±$23kLowest 18% below NH |
$340,900±$49k 15% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,955±$374Highest 31% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% 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 | $6,384 4% below NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 33.3%±74.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest 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 | 3.1% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
90.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 2 yrs older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 22 minLowest 18% below NH |
24 min 9% below NH |
25 minHighest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 16%±7.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | — | Nelson School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.