Compare towns
Exeter vs Barnstead vs New Boston 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 the shortest commute (25 min average).
Barnstead has the most affordable homes ($362k median).
New Boston has the highest household income ($154k).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Exeter | Barnstead | New Boston | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,994Lowest |
6,165 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
42.8±3.1 about the NH average |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston 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%±4.8 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
44.4% 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%±3Lowest 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 |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| New Boston and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$362,400±$25kLowest 10% below NH |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and New Boston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,395±$75 6% below NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,003Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.6%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Barnstead 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% |
3.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 16% above NH |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Barnstead School District | New Boston 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 | 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.