Compare towns
Bristol 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
Bristol has the most affordable homes ($258k 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.
| Measure | Bristol | Exeter | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 3,273Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.7±5.7Lowest about the NH average |
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 | 24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 23.2%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2Lowest 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 | $78,438±$10kLowest 21% 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 | $258,300±$63kLowest 36% 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 | $1,310±$97 12% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.7% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±5.2Lowest 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 | #79 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfound Area School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Newfound Regional High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5Lowest |
12.1Highest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.