Compare towns

Amesbury vs Exeter vs North 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 youngest population (median age 43.7).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).

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.

MeasureAmesburyExeterNorth Hampton
People
Population
17,403Highest
16,151
4,543Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census —
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43.7±1.7Lowest
12% above U.S.
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
50.5±3.3Highest
30% above U.S.
North Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
20%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
19.2%±5.4
U.S.: 22%
Amesbury and North Hampton 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%
26%±4.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
North Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
44.8%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
54.5%
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%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
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±$12kLowest
28% above U.S.
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$146,458±$29kHighest
81% above U.S.
North Hampton and Exeter 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.
$670,400±$61kHighest
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,683±$115Lowest
19% above U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,805±$106
28% above U.S.
Exeter and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,360Lowest
136% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$8,529
173% 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%
23.5%±21Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.9%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
68.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
91.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1984Highest
4 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
29 minHighest
10% above U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
25 minLowest
7% below U.S.
Work from home
17.4%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
25.9%±6.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
North 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 #12 of 120 in NH
School district Amesbury Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District North Hampton School District
High school in town Amesbury High Exeter High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
10.9Lowest
12.1Highest
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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.