Compare towns
Exeter vs Barnstead vs Brentwood vs Hampstead
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Barnstead | Brentwood | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,994 |
4,641Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21%±5 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±4.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Brentwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Barnstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$111,660±$12k 13% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Brentwood and Hampstead 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 |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #111 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barnstead School District | Brentwood School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.