History as old as America and modern political influence
In Exeter, echoes of the Revolutionary War linger. This quaint New England town was New Hampshire’s capital during the war; its American Independence Museum even has one of the original versions of the Declaration of Independence, found in a wall by electricians in 1985. Presidents as far back as George Washington have visited the town, and time hasn’t dulled its influence in the political sphere. Despite its relatively small population of about 16,000, modern presidential candidates make Exeter a regular stop on their campaign trails. Timothy Cheney, a licensed real estate salesperson at Re/Max Shoreline and director at large for the Seacoast Board of Realtors, says it gives locals a unique chance to speak one-on-one with candidates. “One person can make a way bigger impact up here,” Cheney says. “If ... you’re passionate about a cause, it’s a lot easier to champion it up here, in my opinion.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, many residents work in education, health care and social assistance. This isn’t surprising for Exeter, which has highly rated schools — including an internationally recognized private school. It’s also home to Exeter Hospital and RiverWoods, a retirement and assisted living facility.
Single-family houses and renovated condos
New Englanders, Colonial Revivals and Georgian-style homes are common here, though newly built new traditionals also make appearances. The median price of single-family homes is $710,000, much higher than the national and state medians. However, Cheney says, Exeter also has mobile homes, townhouses and condos, creating a wide price range. “So you can go all the way from buying a mobile home within a community and spending $50,000 to $200,000, all the way to buying a multi-million dollar single-family home,” he says. Exeter’s condos are often in old brick manufacturing buildings, offering interior details like exposed wooden beams and high ceilings. “It’s more of a modern, updated callback of still preserving the history of being a mill town while making updates to it,” Cheney says.
Located just outside of the town center of Exeter, you can find spacious condo units for rent or to buy.
Exeter's New Englander homes boost steep roofs, bay windows, and a character as rich as the town's history.
In the town of Exeter, you can find timeless Colonials on large wooded lots.
Affordable and cozy living in Exeter, mobile homes offer flexibility with small-town charm.
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Highly rated public schools, internationally acclaimed Phillips Exeter Academy
Consisting of just two schools, the Exeter School District serves children from pre-K through fifth grade. Niche gives the district a B-plus and lists it among the top five districts to teach in New Hampshire. For middle and elementary school, students attend the Exeter Region Cooperative School District, which also gets a B-plus. Niche lists the district among the top 15 in the state and as the state’s second-best district for athletes.
Phillips Exeter Academy is one of Exeter’s defining features. Established in 1781, it’s the sixth-oldest boarding school in America and has the largest high school library in the world. A lengthy list of famous and successful people have attended the school over the centuries, including Franklin Pierce, who was the 14th U.S. president, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and three Nobel Prize winners. Today, it remains among the best private schools in the country, drawing students from around the world. It has an A-plus on Niche, which also places it as the best private school in New Hampshire and the best school — public or private — for STEM in the state. Niche also ranks it as the third-best private high school in country.
Lincoln Street Elementary School is a public school in Exeter.
Phillips Exeter Academy is a private, college preparatory school in Exeter.
Main Street School in Exeter serves grades K-2.
Lincoln Street School in Exeter serves grades 3-5.
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Quaint downtown with James Beard Award semifinalists
Exeter’s walkable downtown sprawls around Water Street and Front Street at the edge of the Squamscott River. Exuding historic New England charm, it’s brimming with local shops. “It’s pretty much all mom-and-pop stores, or if there’s a chain it’s more of a local chain,” Cheney says. “So you really do get a very unique feel to it, where you go in there and you never know exactly what you’re going to see.” According to Cheney, the dining scene has exploded in the past five or 10 years, making Exeter a foodie’s dream. The executive chefs of two local restaurants — Vino e Vivo and Otis Restaurant — made it to the semifinalist rounds for James Beard awards in 2023 and 2024, respectively.
Me & Ollie's in Exeter, where fresh baked goods, rich coffee, and a cozy vibe make every visit feel like home.
Otto, a local favorite in Exeter serves up creative, crispy, and crave-worthy pizza with fresh, bold flavors.
You can find a variety of shops, from florists to cafes and everything in between, in Downtown Exeter.
Bustling yet charming, Exeter's downtown is a blend of historic storefronts and lively local culture.
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Kayaking on the Squamscott River, hiking in town forests
Exeter is surrounded by nature, including the Henderson-Swasey Town Forest. “In the summer, people enjoy kayaking or paddleboarding along the Squamscott River, hiking at places like the Oaklands Town Forest, or relaxing at nearby beaches like Hampton Beach,” says Nina Fee, an associate broker at Keller Williams Coastal Realty who has been selling homes here for about 24 years. “When the weather turns colder, outdoor activities shift to snowshoeing, ice skating, and cross-country skiing.” Cheney adds that ice fishing is also a favorite winter activity.
The Henderson-Swasey Town Forest in Exeter, is a 220 acre area of conservation lands with hiking trails.
Fast-paced action on the ice at The Rink at Exeter, where skaters glide, shots fly, and the game comes alive.
Take a quiet walk along the Squamscott river at the Swasey Parkway in Exeter.
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Independence Day and a UFO festival
Exeter’s American Independence Day Festival is a big deal. “It’s normally mid-July, where they’ll do a reenactment where people will actually dress up in American Revolutionary garb and everything,” Cheney says. There’s also a reading of the Declaration of Independence, music, colonial games and fireworks that Cheney says some people watch from boats on the river. It’s not the only big event, though — the Powderkeg Beer and Chili Festival and a yearly UFO Festival are also incredibly popular. “The town gets really into it,” Cheney says of the UFO Festival. “Businesses will decorate for the UFO Festival, they do costume contests for people, they do costume contests for dogs and animals and pets, they bring in speakers.”
Easy highway access, commuter line to Boston
State Routes 111, 101 and 108 all run through Exeter. The town also has an Amtrak station with a commuter line to Boston — a ride that takes about an hour and 10 minutes. “Exeter’s location makes it a popular spot for those commuting to Boston, Portsmouth or other parts of the Seacoast area,” Fee says.
Exeter has its own train station which serves Amtrak with train service to Boston and North to Maine.
Exeter is an Amtrak served community where you can take the Downeaster North to Brunswick, Maine or South to Boston.
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Cold winters, a new public safety complex in the works
Winters in Exeter are particularly cold, and the area often gets multiple feet of snow a year. According to First Street, a climate risk data organization, Exeter has a moderate risk of flooding and a major risk of high winds. Hurricanes and tropical storms can pass over New Hampshire, but it doesn’t happen often.
Exeter has its own police force, the Exeter Police Department. Crime data for the town is not readily available. But according to the New Hampshire Business Review, voters approved a plan for a new public safety complex in March 2024. The complex, which will contain the police and fire department headquarters, is estimated to cost $17.5 million and aims to have net zero energy consumption.
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