What is the cost of living in Exeter, NH?
According to the most recent data on the cost of living, Exeter has an overall cost of living index of 114, which is 1.1x higher than the national index of 100.
Compared to New Hampshire, Exeter has a cost of living index that's 1.0x higher than New Hampshire's index of 111.
The standard of living in Exeter ranks as #14 most affordable out of the 25 places we measured in New Hampshire. By definition, that implies Exeter ranks as the #11 most expensive place in the Granite State.
For more reading on life in Exeter, check out:
Exeter Cost Of Living Vs. New Hampshire
Six factors go into calculating the cost of living index in Exeter. Here is how it fares on each of the criteria:
The Services index in Exeter is 103.
The Groceries index in Exeter is 104.
The Health index in Exeter is 132.
The Housing index in Exeter is 103.
The Transportation index in Exeter is 107.
The Utilities index in Exeter is 109.
| Living Expense | Exeter | New Hampshire | National Average |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 114 | 111 | 100 |
| Services | 103 | 103 | 100 |
| Groceries | 104 | 105 | 100 |
| Health | 132 | 126 | 100 |
| Housing | 103 | 104 | 100 |
| Transportation | 107 | 108 | 100 |
| Utilities | 109 | 102 | 100 |
Exeter Cost Of Living Compared To New Hampshire Averages
Index where 100 = national average. Source: cost-of-living index 2026.
For more reading on cost of living around New Hampshire, check out:
- Most Expensive Cities In New Hampshire
- Most Affordable Cities In New Hampshire
- Average Rent In New Hampshire
Source: Cost-of-living index 2026, normalized to US average = 100
Exeter, NH Housing Cost Breakdown
Housing swings affordability the most between places in New Hampshire, so we broke down housing costs into more detail. Home and income data comes from the most recent US Census ACS 2020-2024. The key points are:
The Median Home Value in Exeter is $607,124.
The Median Rent in Exeter is $1,711.
The Median Income in Exeter is $87,346.
The Home Value To Income in Exeter is 7.0x.
The Rent To Monthly Income in Exeter is 0.24x.
| Statistic | Exeter | New Hampshire | United States |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median Home Value | $607,124 | $507,347 | $332,700 |
| Median Rent | $1,711 | $1,491 | $1,413 |
| Median Income | $87,346 | $99,031 | $80,734 |
| Home Value To Income | 7.0x | 5.1x | 4.1x |
| Rent To Monthly Income | 0.24x | 0.18x | 0.21x |
Exeter, NH Costs By Category
Detailed Exeter Services costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Exeter | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Shampoo | $1.25 | $1.28 |
| Movie | $13.07 | $12.13 |
| Bowling | $25.44 | $18 |
| Haircut | $26.58 | $24.26 |
| Beauty Salon | $67.97 | $45.56 |
Detailed Exeter Groceries costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Exeter | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Ground Beef | $5.47 | $5.84 |
| Fried Chicken | $1.44 | $1.57 |
| Milk | $4.75 | $4.67 |
| Potatoes | $5.01 | $4.93 |
| Pizza | $11.66 | $12.09 |
| Beer | $9.82 | $10.41 |
| Toothpaste | $3.73 | $3.7 |
Detailed Exeter Health costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Exeter | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Optometrist | $115.0 | $125.68 |
| Doctor | $164.0 | $135.78 |
| Dentist | $136.17 | $113.29 |
Detailed Exeter Transportation costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Exeter | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $3.33 | $3.46 |
| Tire Balancing | $86.0 | $59.92 |
Detailed Exeter Utilities costs vs. New Hampshire
| Item | Exeter | New Hampshire |
|---|---|---|
| All Electricity | $294.4 | $193.99 |
| Phone | $186.72 | $192.25 |
Exeter SnackAbility
Cost Of Living In Cities Around Exeter
The cost of living varies in the cities and towns around Exeter. Here's a quick look at the cost of living in the most populous nearby places:
Haverhill, MA has a cost of living index of 127, 1.1x Exeter.
Dover, NH has a cost of living index of 116, 1.0x Exeter.
Portsmouth, NH has a cost of living index of 137, 1.2x Exeter.
| City | Population | Cost Of Living | Vs. Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Haverhill, MA | 67,698 | 127 | 1.1x |
| Dover, NH | 33,364 | 116 | 1.0x |
| Portsmouth, NH | 22,545 | 137 | 1.2x |
| Derry, NH | 21,339 | 114 | 1.0x |
| Newburyport, MA | 18,652 | 162 | 1.4x |
| Somersworth, NH | 12,111 | 110 | 1.0x |
| Durham, NH | 10,681 | 127 | 1.1x |
| Hampton, NH | 10,101 | 130 | 1.1x |
| Newmarket, NH | 5,679 | 115 | 1.0x |
| Salisbury, MA | 5,656 | 137 | 1.2x |
