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City Housing Verdict

Exeter, NH

High Pressure

Living in Exeter, NH costs about 42% more than the national average (Cost Index: 142). Housing is the main driver — the typical home value of $594,403 is well above the $303,400 US median. The local median household income is $83,862, which helps frame the place-side housing burden.

Exeter already reads as a high-pressure housing market, with 22% rent burden, 7.1x home-price-to-income, and a housing index of 196. Treat this page as a stress test for rent, mortgage, and tax burden before assuming the move works.Data Sources: U.S. Census Bureau ACS 2023 · BEA RPP 2023 · Zillow ZHVI

Data Updated: March 2026
Housing Feasibility Verdict
Stretch

Based on your household income, housing mode, local rent, home value, property tax, and mortgage assumptions for Exeter.

Monthly Housing
$1,569/mo
Lower of rent or buy scenario
Housing Burden
22%
Healthy
Residual Cash
$4,920/mo
After housing and debt · $1,640/person
Rent vs Buy
Rent first
Main pressure: home prices
Assumptions
Housing Mode
Confidence: MediumHome source: ZILLOWRent source: ACSBEA proxy: msaHousehold size: 3Down payment: 20%Fixed burden: 30%
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Cost Index
142
Very Expensive
Based on housing costs · See methodology
Median Home Value
$594,403
Zillow ZHVI Market Rate • Census ACS: $349,300
National: $303,400
Median Rent
$1,569/mo
Source: Census ACS
National: $1,348/mo
Household Income
$83,862
National: $78,538
Population
10,138
Purchasing Power
75
100 = national baseline

Cost of Living Breakdown

Each index uses 100 as the US national average. A score of 150 means 50% more expensive; 80 means 20% cheaper.

Housing Cost Index
196 / 100
96% above average
Rent Index
116 / 100
16% above average
Goods & Groceries
100 / 100
About the same as most US cities
Utilities
149 / 100
49% higher utility bills
Healthcare & Services
104 / 100
In line with national average
Overall Index
142
Very Expensive · 42% above average

Exeter Mortgage Calculator

Pre-filled with the local median home value of $594,403 and New Hampshire's property tax rate of 1.86%.

Household Housing Budget

Local median household income is shown only as a place-side affordability input. Personal salary, filing status, and take-home pay analysis belong in salary.city.

Local Household Income
$83,862
Census ACS place context
Rent Burden Estimate
22%
Typical annual rent / local household income
Home Price to Income
7.1x
Typical home value / local household income
Use this section to judge whether Exeter looks structurally manageable for a household budget. For a specific job offer, filing status, payroll taxes, or salary equivalence across cities, run the income-side decision in salary.city.

Property Tax in Exeter, NH

Est. Annual Property Tax
$11,056
Monthly Impact
$921
Added to your mortgage
Effective Rate
1.86%
National avg: ~1.00%

New Hampshire Place Tax Context

Tax TypeNew HampshireNational Avg
Property Tax Rate1.86%1.00%
Top Income Tax RateNo State Income Tax~5.0%
State Sales TaxNo Sales Tax~5.0%

Compare Exeter to Another City

Compare place-side costs such as housing, rent, groceries, utilities, services, and tax context.

Cost of Living Comparison

Compare place-side housing, rent, goods, services, and utility pressure between cities.

Exeter, NH
142
116
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Cost Index Comparison (100 = National Avg)

Housing CostsNational Avg: 100
Exeter, NH: 196
Rent Prices
116

FAQ: Living in Exeter

Is Exeter, NH an expensive place to live?+

Yes — Exeter is about 42% more expensive than the national average, with an overall Cost Index of 142. Housing is the biggest factor: the typical home here is valued around $594,403, and monthly rents average roughly $1,569. Day-to-day costs like groceries and utilities tend to run closer to the national norm.

How does Exeter fit a household housing budget?+

Start with housing. Typical monthly rent is $1,569, while local median household income is $83,862. That implies a rent-burden proxy of about 22% before utilities and other costs. For a specific job offer, filing status, or take-home pay scenario, use salary.city.

How much are taxes in Exeter, NH?+

New Hampshire is one of the few states with no state income tax, which can save residents thousands of dollars per year. The effective property tax rate is 1.86%. On a home worth $594,403, that translates to roughly $11,056 per year in property taxes. There is no state sales tax.

How much does it cost to rent in Exeter, NH?+

The typical monthly rent in Exeter is around $1,569. That's about 16% higher than the $1,348 national median. For comparison, the median home value here is $594,403, so buyers should also factor in mortgage payments, property taxes, and insurance.

How much does a house cost in Exeter, NH?+

The median home in Exeter is valued at $594,403. With 20% down and a 6.5% mortgage rate, you'd be looking at roughly $3,006/month for principal and interest alone — before property taxes and insurance. About 60% of residents here own their homes.

Are groceries and utilities expensive in Exeter?+

Grocery prices in Exeter are about average compared to the rest of the US (index: 100, where 100 is the national average). Utility bills (electricity, gas, water) are on the high side (index: 149). Overall, these everyday costs shouldn't cause major surprises if you're moving from another similarly-sized US city.

What is Exeter, NH like to live in?+

Exeter is a small town with a population of about 10,138. The median age of residents is 44.2, skewing somewhat older — common in established suburban communities. The local poverty rate is 6.86%, well below the national average of 12.4%.

Lower-Pressure Alternatives in New Hampshire

If Exeter feels tight, start with these same-state cities that look easier on rent burden or buy-side pressure.

Higher-Pressure Comparisons in New Hampshire

Use these city pages when you want to compare Exeter against tougher same-state markets before deciding whether the current city is already a stretch.

LC
Reviewed by LivabilityCalc Research Team
Financial Data Analysts · Census & Economic Data Specialists
Data Sources & Methodology
  • Real Estate & Housing: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI, Smoothed & Seasonally Adjusted) and Zillow Observed Rent Index (ZORI). Structural fallback utilizes U.S. Census Bureau ACS 5-Year Estimates.
  • Goods, Utilities & Services: U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) Metropolitan Area Regional Price Parities (MARPP), incorporating verified State Nonmetropolitan averages.
  • Mortgage Rates: Freddie Mac 30-Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Average in the United States (PMMS) via Federal Reserve Economic Data (FRED).
  • Tax Context: State-level property, sales, and income-tax context used for place-side relocation planning. Personal take-home pay and offer analysis are handled by salary.city.
  • Index Methodology: Weighting matrix derived from Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Expenditure Surveys (CEX) distributional models. Baseline standardized at 100. (Read methodology details)
Last data update: March 2026 · Mortgage rates updated monthly