Compare towns
Eliot vs Exeter vs Hampton vs Topsham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Eliot has the shortest commute (23 min average).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k median).
Topsham has the most affordable homes ($361k 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 | Eliot | Exeter | Hampton | Topsham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,146Lowest |
16,151 |
16,426Highest |
9,706 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 50.8±5.9 31% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
44.7±4Lowest 15% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Topsham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±6.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Topsham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9k 18% above U.S. |
$91,028±$10kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39kHighest 65% above U.S. |
$360,800±$20kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,355±$642Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,549 46% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,813 118% above U.S. |
$4,259Lowest 37% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.3%±12.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1980Highest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
26 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 min 11% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.2%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampton 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #22 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #66 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | RSU 75/MSAD 75 |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School | Mt Ararat High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
10.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.