Compare towns
Dracut 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
Dracut has the youngest population (median age 41.7).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Dracut | Exeter | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
16,151 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2Lowest 7% 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 | 21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10kHighest 41% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Dracut and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 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 | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dracut | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.