Compare towns
Exeter vs Durham vs Lee 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%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
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 | Lee | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
15,080 |
4,576Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
42.9±1.9 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%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Lee 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Lee 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±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$480,600±$61k 19% 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
— | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,661 45% above NH |
$8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 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% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.3Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 51 photos → | 10 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.