Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Holderness
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Holderness has the most affordable homes ($363k median).
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 | Center Harbor | Exeter | Hampton Falls | Holderness |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 955Lowest |
16,151Highest |
2,328 |
1,917 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
39.4±7.4Lowest 9% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±9.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
31.4%±4.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Holderness are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
55.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$107,863±$45k 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$363,100±$60kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,068±$385Highest 39% above NH |
| Holderness and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667 30% below NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$3,923Lowest 41% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
83.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.4%±4.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Holderness School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.