Compare towns

Amherst vs North Hampton vs Exeter vs Windham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
North Hampton has the oldest population (median age 50.5).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Windham has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.4%).

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.

MeasureAmherstNorth HamptonExeterWindham
People
Population
11,861
4,543Lowest
16,151Highest
16,038
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%
NH: +4.6%
+16.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.9±3.5
6% above NH
50.5±3.3Highest
17% above NH
45.8±2.3
6% above NH
41.1±2.9Lowest
5% below NH
North Hampton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.4%±3.3
NH: 18.2%
19.2%±5.4
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7Lowest
NH: 18.2%
27.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
Windham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
20.2%±3
NH: 20.1%
26%±4.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
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+
65.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
54.5%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
59.2%
NH: 40.6%
62.7%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.7%±1.5
NH: 6%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.8
NH: 6%
Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$153,196±$10k
55% above NH
$146,458±$29k
48% above NH
$110,346±$13kLowest
11% above NH
$189,583±$19kHighest
91% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$537,600±$30k
34% above NH
$670,400±$61k
67% above NH
$456,600±$21kLowest
13% above NH
$723,300±$50kHighest
80% above NH
Windham and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,462±$256Lowest
about the NH average
$1,805±$106
21% above NH
$1,856±$223
24% above NH
$3,218±$350Highest
116% above NH
Property taxmedian, yearly
$9,773
47% above NH
$8,529Lowest
28% above NH
$8,814
32% above NH
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
31.4%±9
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21Lowest
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
52.2%±50.9
NH: 48.2%
Exeter and Windham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.4%
NH: 7.2%
2.9%
NH: 7.2%
4.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
91.9%
NH: 72.8%
91.3%
NH: 72.8%
69.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
93.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1984
5 yrs newer than NH
1979
same as NH
1996Highest
17 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
33 minHighest
22% above NH
25 minLowest
8% below NH
25 min
7% below NH
31 min
15% above NH
Work from home
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
25.9%±6.9
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4.4
NH: 16.8%
Amherst and North Hampton 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 #20 of 120 in NH #12 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH #13 of 120 in NH
School district Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District North Hampton School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Windham School District
High school in town Souhegan Coop High School None in town Exeter High School Windham High School
Students per teacherat that high school
10.4Lowest
—
12.1
12.8Highest
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NH 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.