Compare towns
Ashland vs Exeter vs North Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ashland has the most affordable homes ($227k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
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 | Ashland | Exeter | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,183Lowest |
16,151Highest |
4,543 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.3±11.2Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| North Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Ashland and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±5.3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $54,607±$9kLowest 45% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| 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 | $227,000±$29kLowest 44% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$155Lowest 26% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Exeter and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,961Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,529 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 39.1%±14.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Ashland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 21.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minHighest 4% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 9.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Ashland School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
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.