Compare towns
Durham vs Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Seabrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Seabrook has the oldest population (median age 54).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Exeter | Hampton Falls | Seabrook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080 |
16,151Highest |
2,328Lowest |
8,427 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
| Seabrook and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1 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+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,542±$174 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
68.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
21 min 22% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #114 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Seabrook School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.