Compare towns
Exeter vs Freetown 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%).
Freetown has the highest household income ($144k).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Freetown | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,285 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.9±3.2Lowest 5% 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% |
21.1%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Freetown 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% |
17.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
40%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.2Lowest 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±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$143,884±$15kHighest 78% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Freetown and Hampstead 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. |
$518,200±$30k 56% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Freetown 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. |
$1,891±$363Highest 34% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Freetown 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. |
$5,188Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.2%±12.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
32 minHighest 23% above U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.7%±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 | #161 of 282 in MA | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Freetown-Lakeville | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.