Compare towns
Exeter vs Dover vs Durham 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%).
Dover has the most affordable homes ($437k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Dover | Durham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
33,364Highest |
10,681 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
36.9±1.9 15% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% 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%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.9%±1.8 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest 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+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
52% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.2%±1.2 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$94,829±$7kLowest 4% below NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Durham 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 |
$436,700±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Durham 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 |
$1,607±$100 8% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Dover 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 |
$8,249Lowest 24% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
48.6%±6.3 NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Durham 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% |
8.3% NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
52.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
53.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 min 15% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
18.6%±2.5 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Exeter 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 | #64 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dover School District | — | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Dover Senior High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
— | — |
| 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.