Compare towns
Exeter vs Ellsworth 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%).
Ellsworth has the most affordable homes ($242k median).
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).
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 | Ellsworth | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,657Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43±2.4Lowest 11% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.4%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Ellsworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Ellsworth 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% |
39.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Ellsworth 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. |
$77,375±$18kLowest 4% below 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. |
$242,300±$22kLowest 27% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,017±$195Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,262Lowest 5% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
62.1%±15.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ellsworth and Exeter 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
66.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #63 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Ellsworth Public Schools | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Ellsworth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
12.7Highest |
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| 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.