Compare towns
Exeter vs Ferrisburgh vs Middlesex 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%).
Ferrisburgh has the oldest housing (typical home built 1968).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
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 | Ferrisburgh | Middlesex | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,661 |
1,943Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.5±4.9 17% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Ferrisburgh 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% |
17.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.3%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Ferrisburgh 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% |
51.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Middlesex 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. |
$106,989±$22kLowest 33% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% 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. |
$422,700±$35k 27% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above 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. |
$1,435±$173 about the U.S. average |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,120Lowest 96% above U.S. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
57%±19.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Ferrisburgh are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.6%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex 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 | #7 of 70 in VT | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Addison Northwest Unified Union School District #54 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | 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 History | 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.