Compare towns
Exeter vs Auburn vs Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Exeter | Auburn | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
6,119Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+20%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
44.3±5.9Lowest about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.3%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
55.3% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7.2%±4.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$153,253±$6kHighest 55% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$600,300±$29kHighest 49% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Auburn and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,893±$822Highest 27% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,092 21% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±27Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
2.5%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.5%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Auburn and Hampton 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 | #44 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Auburn School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.