Compare towns
Berlin vs Exeter vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Berlin has the most affordable homes ($131k 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 | Berlin | Exeter | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,383 |
16,151Highest |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -6.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.6±2.8Lowest 3% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.2%±2.8 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Berlin are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.1%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| 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 | $45,180±$5kLowest 54% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $131,000±$15kLowest 67% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $815±$141Lowest 45% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,437Lowest 48% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.7%±12Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1938Lowest 41 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 30% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 3.5%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #108 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Berlin School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Berlin Senior High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.2Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.