Compare towns
Exeter vs Gorham vs Westbrook 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 the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Westbrook has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.6%).
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 | Gorham | Westbrook | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
18,300 |
20,775Highest |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
39.4±2.9 about the U.S. average |
37.4±1Lowest 4% below 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% |
20.9%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±2.4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Gorham 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% |
17.5%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.1%±2.2 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% |
44.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.1%±1.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
9%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Gorham and Westbrook 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. |
$112,312±$6k 39% above U.S. |
$85,038±$7kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Gorham 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. |
$460,900±$26k 39% above U.S. |
$383,300±$19kLowest 15% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Gorham 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. |
$1,680±$355 19% above U.S. |
$1,392±$74 about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Gorham 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. |
$4,825 55% above U.S. |
$4,005Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
37.9%±8.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.1%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Westbrook 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% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
81.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
61.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
19 minLowest 29% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±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 | #24 of 133 in ME | #115 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Gorham Public Schools | Westbrook Public Schools | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Gorham High School | Westbrook High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
12.9Highest |
12.0Lowest |
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| 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.