Compare towns
Bethlehem vs Hampton vs Exeter vs Carroll
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethlehem has the most people working from home (31.2%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Carroll has the most homeowners (91.6%).
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 | Bethlehem | Hampton | Exeter | Carroll |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,537 |
16,426Highest |
16,151 |
659Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.6±8.5 17% above NH |
55.8±2.1 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
62.4±4.8Highest 44% above NH |
| Carroll and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.7%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
7%±4.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Bethlehem and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28.2%±5.5 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±4.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.1% NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $85,029±$18k 14% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$64,821±$26kLowest 35% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,300±$22k 28% below NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$261,500±$42kLowest 35% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,174±$81 21% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,078±$241Lowest 28% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,418 19% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$3,356Lowest 50% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.3%±18.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
28%±47.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
22 min 19% below NH |
| Work from home | 31.2%±12.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
4.6%±3.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Bethlehem and Hampton 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 | #34 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Bethlehem School District · Profile School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Profile Senior High School | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 8.9Lowest |
10.1 |
12.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.