Compare towns
Webster vs Exeter vs Boscawen
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Webster has the most homeowners (96%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k 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 | Webster | Exeter | Boscawen |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,227Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,044 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.7±7.6Lowest 3% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
| Boscawen and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Webster and Boscawen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±1.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Boscawen and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 30.7% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $107,171±$14k 8% above NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
| Exeter and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $338,500±$30k 16% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,396±$622 6% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
| Exeter and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,021Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,549 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.6%±71 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Webster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 9.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 14% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 17.1%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Webster 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 | #51 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Merrimack Valley School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.