Compare towns
Exeter vs Brentwood 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Brentwood | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
4,641Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
43.8±3.1Lowest about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
21.8%±3.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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 |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Hampton and Brentwood 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 |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above 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 |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1995Highest 16 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% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #16 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brentwood 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 → | 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.