Compare towns
Exeter vs Eliot vs Rollinsford vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Eliot has the oldest population (median age 50.8).
Rollinsford has the most people working from home (25.9%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Eliot | Rollinsford | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,146 |
2,626Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
38.8±5.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±4.8 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Rollinsford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.8%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Eliot and Exeter 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
43.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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 37% above U.S. |
$101,522±$10k 26% above U.S. |
$89,500±$26kLowest 11% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead 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±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$398,100±$33kLowest 20% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,809±$394 28% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Eliot and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$6,851 120% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.1%±20.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±26.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
78.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±8.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Rollinsford 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 | #19 of 133 in ME | #94 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Rollinsford 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 |
U.S. 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.