Compare towns
Exeter vs Eliot vs South Hampton
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).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
7,146 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.8±5.9Highest 31% above U.S. |
45.1±5.3Lowest 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% |
23.3%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Hampton 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
52.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and South Hampton 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±$10kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$152,500±$44kHighest 89% above U.S. |
| South Hampton 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 37% above U.S. |
$498,900±$62k 50% above U.S. |
$661,100±$45kHighest 99% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Lowest 31% above U.S. |
$1,948±$471Highest 38% above U.S. |
$1,889±$489 34% above U.S. |
| Eliot and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$4,549Lowest 46% above U.S. |
$9,109Highest 192% 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% |
30%±40.8Lowest 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
88.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 15% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.4%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Eliot 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 | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | 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 |
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.