Compare towns
Amesbury vs Exeter vs North Hampton vs Hudson
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).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
Hudson has the youngest population (median age 42.9).
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 | North Hampton | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 17,403 |
16,151 |
4,543Lowest |
20,077Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.7±1.7 12% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7Lowest 10% 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% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Amesbury and Hudson 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% |
20.1%±2.3 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% |
46.1% 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% |
4%±1 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13kLowest 28% 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. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$115 19% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,360 136% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$6,892Lowest 121% 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% |
40.8%±8.7 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% |
5.3% 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% |
73.2% 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. |
1970 10 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 10% above U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above 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% |
19.6%±3.6 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 | #224 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Amesbury | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Hudson |
| High school in town | Amesbury High | Exeter High School | None in town | Hudson High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.9 |
12.1Highest |
— | 10.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.