Compare towns
Bath vs Exeter vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bath has the most affordable homes ($311k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Bath | Exeter | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 8,815Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.4±3 17% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 15.5%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25.2%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.5%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $69,390±$12kLowest 14% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $310,900±$30kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,044±$116Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,847Lowest 23% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 51.3%±15.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 12.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.3%±6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | #31 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | RSU 01 - LKRSU | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Morse High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.