Compare towns
Exeter vs Durham 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Durham | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
15,080Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Hampton 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 |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Oyster River High School | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.3Highest |
10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 51 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.