Compare towns
Amesbury vs Exeter vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amesbury has the most kids (20% under 18).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Amesbury | Exeter | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 17,403Highest |
16,151Lowest |
16,426 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7Lowest 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 20%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.1%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,554±$12k 28% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $519,300±$32k 56% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Amesbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±10.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Amesbury and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 68.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 10% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 17.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #151 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Amesbury | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.