Compare towns
Exeter vs Franconia vs Hampton Falls
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%).
Franconia has the shortest commute (20 min average).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Franconia | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,060Lowest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
55.6±7Highest 28% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Franconia and Hampton Falls 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% |
15.2%±5.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
36.6%±6.7Highest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.9% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5%±5.4 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Franconia 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 11% above NH |
$87,292±$28kLowest 12% below NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$530,300±$96k 32% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,281±$278Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$7,451Lowest 12% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
73.2%±74.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Franconia 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% |
11.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
20 minLowest 25% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±5.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Lafayette Regional School District | Hampton Falls 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 |
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.