Town · New Hampshire
Exeter, New Hampshire
Exeter, town, in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Exeter had 16,213 residents on July 1, 2025 by the Census Bureau's estimate, up 0.9% since 2020; the 2020 Census counted 16,049 and the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates put it at 16,151 (±35). GEOID 3301525380.
Residents, July 2025 estimate
16,213
Census Bureau estimate (no margin published)
2020 Census count: 16,049 · ACS 2020-2024: 16,151 ±35
Median household income
$110,346
±$12,674 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $99,031
Median home value
$456,600
±$20,909 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $402,500
Median gross rent
$1,856
±$223 (90% margin)
New Hampshire: $1,491
Where is Exeter and what county is it in?
Exeter is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. It covers 19.6 square miles of land, 819 residents per square mile in 2020.
One place lies inside Exeter: Exeter (CDP, 10,109 in 2020).
Exeter is in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metropolitan statistical area, which takes in 7 counties (Census Bureau delineation, July 2023).
Source: 2024 Gazetteer and 2020 place-by-county files, U.S. Census Bureau · Census reference files
How many people live in Exeter, and is it growing?
The Census Bureau estimates that 16,213 people lived in Exeter on July 1, 2025, up 0.9% since 2020, slower than New Hampshire (+2.7%). The 2020 Census counted 16,049 residents. The 2020-2024 American Community Survey, a five-year sample, puts the population at 16,151 (±35).
| Measure | Exeter | Rockingham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total population | 16,151±35 | 319,082 | +1,074 |
| Households | 6,900±343 | 127,570 | no clear change |
| Average household size | 2.28±0.11 | 2.48 | no clear change |
| Housing units | 7,342±365 | 137,794 | no clear change |
Exeter's population since 2000
From 14,058 in 2000 to 16,213 in 2025: up 15.3%. The 2000, 2010 and 2020 figures are census counts, each for Exeter as it was drawn that year: a place that annexed land, or a community that has since incorporated, covered a different area then. The 2005 figure is the Census Bureau's intercensal estimate, revised to fit the 2000 and 2010 counts and drawn on 2010 boundaries; 2015 and 2025 are July 1 estimates made from the census before them.
Source: The 2000, 2010 and 2020 Census counts and the Census Bureau's population estimates (intercensal 2000-2010, Vintage 2020, Vintage 2025) · Census population estimates
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); Census PEP Vintage 2025 (SUB-EST2025, CO-EST2025); 2020 Census P.L. 94-171 · Check it at data.census.gov
Who lives in Exeter?
The median resident of Exeter is 45.8 years old; 17.0% are under 18 and 24.4% are 65 or older. The largest group is non-Hispanic white residents at 91.2%, then non-Hispanic Asian residents at 3.2%. 6.0% of residents were born outside the United States.
| Measure | Exeter | Rockingham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 | 45.0 | no clear change |
| Under 18 years | 17.0%±1.9 pts | 18.5% | – |
| 65 years and over | 24.4%±2.7 pts | 20.4% | – |
| Male | 45.0%±2.6 pts | 49.7% | – |
| Hispanic or Latino (any race) | 2.6%±1.6 pts | 3.7% | no clear change |
| White alone, not Hispanic | 91.2%±3.1 pts | 89.5% | no clear change |
| Black or African American alone, not Hispanic | 0.7%±0.9 pts | 0.7% | – |
| Asian alone, not Hispanic | 3.2%±1.7 pts | 1.9% | no clear change |
| American Indian and Alaska Native alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.1% | – |
| Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone, not Hispanic | 0.0%±0.2 pts | 0.0% | – |
| Two or more races, not Hispanic | 2.3%±1.3 pts | 3.6% | – |
| Some other race alone, not Hispanic | 0.1%±0.1 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Born outside the United States | 6.0%±2.2 pts | 5.2% | no clear change |
| Speak a language other than English at home (age 5+) | 7.2%±2.4 pts | 6.5% | – |
| Civilian veterans (age 18+) | 6.2%±1.4 pts | 7.3% | – |
| With a disability | 9.8%±2.0 pts | 11.5% | – |
| No health insurance coverage | 4.0%±1.8 pts | 4.1% | no clear change |
| High school graduate or higher (age 25+) | 98.5%±1.0 pts | 96.1% | – |
| Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) | 59.2%±4.1 pts | 45.7% | +10.9 pts |
| Graduate or professional degree (age 25+) | 26.0%±3.9 pts | 17.2% | – |
| Lived in the same house a year earlier | 86.7%±3.7 pts | 91.5% | – |
| Moved from another state in the past year | 6.3%±2.6 pts | 3.2% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profiles DP02, DP05) · Check it at data.census.gov
What do households in Exeter earn?
Half of Exeter's 6,900 households earn less than $110,346 a year (±$12,674), against $118,331 in Rockingham County and $99,031 in New Hampshire. In 2015-2019 it was $94,911 in 2024 dollars; the margins of error cannot tell the two periods apart. 4.7% of residents live below the poverty line.
| Measure | Exeter | Rockingham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median household income | $110,346±$12,674 | $118,331 | no clear change |
| Mean household income | $149,728±$11,493 | $149,721 | – |
| Per capita income | $69,367±$5,760 | $61,558 | no clear change |
| People below the poverty line | 4.7%±1.7 pts | 4.8% | no clear change |
| Children under 18 below the poverty line | 2.4%±3.0 pts | 4.6% | – |
| Households receiving SNAP | 3.3%±1.8 pts | 3.3% | – |
| Households with a computer | 94.7%±2.5 pts | 97.3% | – |
| Households with a broadband subscription | 91.0%±3.4 pts | 95.0% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What does housing cost in Exeter?
Owners occupy 69.1% of Exeter's occupied homes and renters 30.9%. The median owner-occupied home is valued at $456,600 by its owner (±$20,909). The median renter pays $1,856 a month including utilities, and 44.3% of renters pay 35% or more of their income on rent.
| Measure | Exeter | Rockingham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median home value (owner-occupied) | $456,600±$20,909 | $497,500 | +$111,513 |
| Median gross rent | $1,856±$223 | $1,687 | +$398 |
| Renters paying 35% or more of income on rent | 44.3%±8.9 pts | 39.7% | no clear change |
| Median monthly owner costs, with a mortgage | $2,748±$155 | $2,669 | – |
| Owner-occupied homes | 69.1%±4.2 pts | 78.4% | no clear change |
| Renter-occupied homes | 30.9%±4.2 pts | 21.6% | – |
| Housing units | 7,342±365 | 137,794 | no clear change |
| Homeowner vacancy rate | 0.0%±0.7 pts | 0.5% | – |
| Rental vacancy rate | 3.3%±3.7 pts | 3.9% | – |
| Single-family detached homes | 42.4%±4.9 pts | 65.2% | – |
| Mobile homes | 12.1%±2.7 pts | 4.4% | – |
| Built 2020 or later | 0.8%±0.6 pts | 1.9% | – |
| Built 2010 to 2019 | 10.4%±2.9 pts | 8.6% | – |
| Built 1939 or earlier | 23.0%±4.4 pts | 12.5% | – |
| Households with no vehicle | 6.5%±2.4 pts | 3.1% | – |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP04) · Check it at data.census.gov
How many new homes is Exeter building?
Builders took permits for 38 new housing units in Exeter in 2025 (29 in single-family houses), 2.3 per 1,000 residents against 3.6 across New Hampshire.
Counts of units in permits a local office issued; not every permitted unit is built. A year marked with months was reported for part of the year.
Source: Building Permits Survey, annual place files 2019-2025, U.S. Census Bureau · Census Building Permits Survey
How do people in Exeter work and get to work?
71.5% of Exeter's workers drive alone and 19.9% work from home. The average trip to work takes 24.8 minutes. The unemployment rate in 2020-2024 averaged 4.9%.
| Measure | Exeter | Rockingham County | Change since 2015-2019 |
|---|---|---|---|
| In the labor force (age 16+) | 67.1%±3.0 pts | 67.9% | – |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9%±2.1 pts | 3.6% | no clear change |
| Drove alone to work | 71.5%±4.5 pts | 72.1% | – |
| Carpooled | 5.2%±2.0 pts | 5.5% | – |
| Public transportation | 0.3%±0.4 pts | 0.4% | – |
| Walked | 1.7%±1.2 pts | 1.3% | – |
| Worked from home | 19.9%±3.6 pts | 19.4% | +12.1 pts |
| Mean travel time to work | 24.8 min±2.3 | 28.9 min | no clear change |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) (Data Profile DP03) · Check it at data.census.gov
What census tracts are in Exeter?
3 census tracts lie mostly in Exeter (2020 census blocks). Their median household incomes run from $73,170 (Tract 1062) to $118,750 (Tract 610.01).
| Tract | Residents, 2020-2024 | Median household income |
|---|---|---|
| Tract 610.01Rockingham County | 6,744 | $118,750 |
| Tract 1062Rockingham County | 4,979 | $73,170 |
| Tract 1064Rockingham County | 4,428 | $112,625 |
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026); 2020 block assignment files (tract share = share of the tract's census blocks in Exeter) · Census block assignment files
How does Exeter compare with other places in New Hampshire?
By the Census Bureau's July 2025 estimates, Exeter is the 767th-most populous of the 16,079 U.S. towns and townships that have one and the 11th-most populous of 221 in New Hampshire.
Exeter ranks 71st of 235 places in New Hampshire with 1,000 or more residents and a reliable estimate, by median household income.
| Measure | Rank | Of |
|---|---|---|
| Population, July 2025 estimate | 11th | 221 |
| Growth 2020-2025 (PEP) | 149th | 187 |
| Residents per square mile | 42nd | 241 |
| Median household income | 71st | 235 |
| Per capita income | 23rd | 240 |
| Median home value | 58th | 239 |
| Median gross rent | 26th | 221 |
| Poverty rate | 128th | 160 |
| Bachelor's degree or higher | 22nd | 239 |
| Median age | 121st | 239 |
| Owner-occupied share | 177th | 241 |
| Work from home | 62nd | 214 |
| Travel time to work | 162nd | 241 |
Exeter's figures with every place in New Hampshire (CSV)
Every place in New Hampshire, sortable · Compare Exeter with other places
Source: PlainCities ranks computed from the American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026) and PEP Vintage 2025 · How ranks are computed
How reliable are the figures for Exeter?
10 of the 57 figures for Exeter on this page carry a coefficient of variation over 40% and are marked with a ring: they come from a small sample, so read them as rough.
The American Community Survey samples about one household in eight over five years, so every figure is an estimate with a 90% margin of error (shown under each value). A ring marks an estimate whose coefficient of variation is over 40%. A change is called only when the gap between the two periods is larger than their combined 90% margin (the square root of the sum of the two squared margins), the Census Bureau's test. How to read a margin of error.
Source: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau (released January 2026): margins of error as published · ACS technical documentation
How these figures are made: methodology and release checks · reading a margin of error · every state · corrections
Not on this page: crime, weather and schools for Exeter are other agencies' records. Crime: the FBI's Crime Data Explorer · climate: NOAA's U.S. Climate Normals · schools: the National Center for Education Statistics' school search.