Compare towns

Bellows Falls 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

Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).

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.

MeasureBellows FallsExeterHampstead
People
Population
2,891Lowest
16,151Highest
9,102
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
-12.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±6.7Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
22.6%±6.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Bellows Falls and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
23.7%±5.7
U.S.: 17.2%
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.2%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.2%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Bellows Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$56,086±$2kLowest
31% 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
$195,600±$35kLowest
41% 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
$1,038±$109Lowest
27% below U.S.
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,299±$149
8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,448Lowest
43% above U.S.
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
43.9%±16.8Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±20.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
25.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
50.7%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
20 minLowest
24% below U.S.
25 min
6% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
6.9%±5.3Lowest
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 — #22 of 120 in NH #49 of 120 in NH
School district — Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Hampstead School District
High school 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

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.