The Town FilesExeter, New Hampshire
Town in Rockingham County · population 16,049 (2020 Census)
- Median home
- $456,600
- Household income
- $110,346
- Jan low / Jul high
- 14° / 82°
- Snow a year
- 57 in
- Tornadoes ≤10 mi since 1950
- 5
- Median age
- 45.8
Exeter is a town of 16,049 people in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. The median home is worth $456,600, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). It ranks hipper than 99% of New Hampshire towns, better for cycling than 97% of New Hampshire towns, better for retirees than 93% of New Hampshire towns.
How Exeter ranks
Percentile among New Hampshire towns with at least 500 people on The Town Files lifestyle rankings. 50 is typical for the state; 90 means better than 90% of New Hampshire towns.
Homes and cost of living
The median home in Exeter is worth $456,600, above the typical New Hampshire town ($357,650). Homes cost about 4.1 times the median household income of $110,346, which is more affordable than 35% of New Hampshire towns. Median rent is $1,856 a month. 69.1% of households own their home.
| Housing | Exeter | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median home value | $456,600 | $357,650 |
| Median rent | $1,856 | $1,285 |
| Median household income | $110,346 | $94,107 |
| Home value ÷ income | 4.1× | 3.8× |
| Homeownership | 69.1% | 82.1% |
| Median year built | 1979 | 1978 |
| Seasonal / vacation homes | 0.7% | — |
Who lives in Exeter
| People | Exeter | Typical New Hampshire town |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8 | 46.3 |
| Age 65 and over | 24.4% | 22.3% |
| Under 18 | 17.0% | — |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 59.2% | 36.8% |
| Below the poverty line | 4.7% | 7.2% |
| Veterans | 6.2% | — |
| Born outside the U.S. | 6.0% | — |
| Work from home | 19.9% | 14.2% |
| Average commute | 24.8 min | 27.1 min |
| Homes with broadband | 91.0% | 92.5% |
Weather in Exeter
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 14.3°F. About 46.3 inches of rain and melted snow fall a year, with 56.6 inches of snow (typical New Hampshire town: 67.7 in). Expect about 11 days a year at 90°F or hotter and 154 nights at or below freezing.
Tornadoes, storms and disasters
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Exeter since 1950, compared with 5 for the typical New Hampshire town. 3 rated (E)F2 or stronger. The strongest, an F3, struck on June 9, 1953 about 1.3 miles from the town center. The most recent was on May 21, 2006.
Hail of 1 inch or larger has been reported within 10 miles 49 times; the largest was 2.00 inches on July 3, 2014.
Severe weather in Rockingham County since 1996
Rockingham County has been included in 35 federal disaster or emergency declarations since 1953, most often for flood, hurricane, snowstorm.
| Declared | Incident | Declaration |
|---|---|---|
| July 10, 2024 | Winter Storm | DR-4799: Severe Winter Storm And Flooding |
| April 19, 2024 | Severe Storm | DR-4771: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| September 14, 2023 | Flood | DR-4740: Severe Storms And Flooding |
| April 3, 2020 | Biological | DR-4516: Covid-19 Pandemic |
| March 13, 2020 | Biological | EM-3445: Covid-19 |
Jobs and pay in Rockingham County
Rockingham County had 157,028 jobs in 2024, paying an average of $73,537 a year. Unemployment was 2.3% in 2023; in Exeter itself the ACS puts it at 4.9%.
Public schools in Exeter
7 public schools with 2,403 students, about 10.3 students per teacher.
| School | Grades | Students | Per teacher |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exeter High School | 9-12 | 1,380 | 12.9 |
| Lincoln Street Elementary School | 3-5 | 417 | 12.3 |
| Main Street School | PK-2 | 390 | 8.0 |
| Great Bay Charter School (H) (charter) | 9-12 | 92 | 15.3 |
| Coastal Waters Chartered Public School (E) (charter) | K-8 | 66 | 3.9 |
| Great Bay Charter School (M) (charter) | 5-8 | 42 | 8.4 |
| Coastal Waters Chartered Public School (H) (charter) | 9-12 | 16 | 1.1 |
Towns near Exeter
- Exeter, NH1.1 mi · 10,109 people · home $357,500
- Stratham, NH3.5 mi · 7,669 people · home $655,400
- Brentwood, NH4.7 mi · 4,490 people · home $528,100
- Newmarket, NH5.7 mi · 9,430 people · home $455,000
- Newmarket, NH6.1 mi · 5,797 people · home $423,500
- North Hampton, NH6.7 mi · 4,538 people · home $670,400
- Greenland, NH6.8 mi · 4,067 people · home $662,800
- Hampton, NH7.3 mi · 16,214 people · home $550,200
Exeter questions
Is Exeter, New Hampshire a good place to retire?
On The Town Files lifestyle rankings, Exeter scores better for retirees than 93% of New Hampshire towns and quieter than 18%. 24.4% of residents are 65 or older (median age 45.8).
How much does a house cost in Exeter?
The median owner-occupied home in Exeter is valued at $456,600 (Census ACS 2020–2024), against a median household income of $110,346, so homes cost about 4.1 times income. Median rent is $1,856 a month.
What is the weather like in Exeter?
July highs average 82.0°F and January lows 14.3°F (NOAA 1991–2020 normals). It gets about 46.3 inches of precipitation a year and 56.6 inches of snow.
Does Exeter get tornadoes?
5 tornadoes have passed within 10 miles of Exeter since 1950 (NOAA Storm Events); the strongest was a F3 on June 9, 1953. The typical New Hampshire town has had 5.
- U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020–2024)
- U.S. Census Bureau, 2020 Census and 2025 Gazetteer (2020 / 2025)
- NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals (1991–2020)
- NOAA NCEI Storm Events Database (1950–2026)
- FEMA OpenFEMA Disaster Declarations (this product uses the FEMA OpenFEMA API but is not endorsed by FEMA) (1953–2026)
- NCES Common Core of Data (2023–24)
- BLS Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages; USDA ERS county unemployment (BLS LAUS) (2000–2024)
- The Town Files lifestyle rankings, built from federal demographic, school, crime and housing data (2025)