Compare towns
Bath vs Exeter vs Hampstead vs Ryegate
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 homeowners (90.9%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Ryegate has the youngest population (median age 41.2).
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 | Ryegate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,097 |
16,151Highest |
9,102 |
1,059Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.6±8.6Highest 25% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
41.2±2.6Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Bath and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±5.8 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
23.2%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Ryegate and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.1%±2.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±1.5 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+ | 26.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
29.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.4%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $67,813±$22k 16% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$66,484±$15kLowest 18% below 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 | $234,400±$23k 30% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$219,300±$32kLowest 34% below 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 | $1,438±$309 about the U.S. average |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$908±$236Lowest 36% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Bath are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,413 41% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$3,472Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 5.9%±61.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±29.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ryegate are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
14.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1949Lowest 31 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.1%±3.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.2%±3.7Lowest 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bath School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead 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 History | 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.