Exeter, NH

Exeter, New Hampshire, sits in a political sweet spot that’s more nuanced than its Cook PVI of D+2 suggests. While the town leans Democratic overall, it’s not a deep-blue stronghold—think of it as a place where the margin between parties is razor-thin, often decided by a few hundred votes in local races. Over the past decade, Exeter has shifted leftward, mirroring the broader trend in New Hampshire’s Seacoast region, but it still retains a strong, vocal Republican minority, especially in the more rural outskirts and neighboring towns like Stratham and Brentwood. The state’s overall PVI is also D+2, but Exeter’s political reality is more about competitive tension than a comfortable majority for either side.

How it compares

Compared to the rest of New Hampshire, Exeter is noticeably more liberal than the state’s northern and western regions, where towns like Berlin or Keene lean redder. But it’s not as uniformly blue as Portsmouth, just 10 miles east, which has a PVI closer to D+10. Exeter’s politics are closer to what you’d find in Durham (home to UNH) or Dover—places where college-educated professionals and younger families drive a moderate-to-liberal tilt, but where old-school New England fiscal conservatism still has a foothold. In the 2024 presidential election, Exeter’s precincts split roughly 55-45 for the Democratic candidate, a tighter margin than in Portsmouth’s 65-35 split. Surrounding towns like Hampton and North Hampton lean more Republican, creating a patchwork where a 10-minute drive can change the political conversation entirely. The state’s famous “Live Free or Die” libertarian streak is alive here, but it’s tempered by a strong local focus on public education and environmental issues, which often pull Exeter leftward on policy.

What this means for residents

For liberal residents, Exeter feels like a comfortable place to live, with a town council that generally supports progressive initiatives like renewable energy investments and affordable housing projects. The local school board, for instance, has consistently funded full-day kindergarten and expanded mental health services, reflecting the community’s priorities. Conservative residents, however, aren’t marginalized—they hold seats on the planning board and often win elections for county offices. What this means in practice is that policy debates are real and contested. A proposed zoning change for a new apartment complex might spark heated town hall meetings, with both sides getting a fair hearing. The tax rate, currently around $18.50 per $1,000 of assessed value, is a perennial flashpoint: liberals argue it’s necessary for services, while conservatives push for cuts. Neither side gets everything it wants, which keeps the political climate pragmatic rather than ideological.

Culturally, Exeter stands out for its strong sense of civic engagement—voter turnout here regularly tops 75% in presidential years, well above the national average. The town’s historic downtown, anchored by Phillips Exeter Academy, fosters a more cosmopolitan vibe than many inland New Hampshire towns, with independent bookstores and farm-to-table restaurants that lean left in their clientele. But the gun culture and Second Amendment advocacy common across the state are still present, with a local gun shop on Portsmouth Avenue doing steady business. The key distinction is that Exeter’s politics are less about national culture wars and more about local quality-of-life issues: how to manage growth along Route 27, whether to expand the rail trail, or how to fund the fire department. For both conservatives and liberals, the takeaway is that Exeter rewards participation—your vote genuinely matters here, and the outcome of a town election can shift the balance of power for years to come.