Compare towns
Enfield vs Exeter vs Hampstead vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Enfield has the most affordable homes ($391k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Enfield | Exeter | Hampstead | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,475Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,102 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.3±5.4Highest 35% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Enfield and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 7.9%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 30.7%±7.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Enfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 43%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±3.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 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 | $95,474±$19k 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below 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 | $390,800±$71kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,181±$563 21% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,203 7% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 17.8%±16.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 11% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 11%±5.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampstead 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 | #5 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Mascoma Valley Regional School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| 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.