Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Goffstown
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%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Hampstead | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
9,102Lowest |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$113,958±$12kHighest 15% above NH |
| Goffstown 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,941Lowest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Goffstown 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% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.6Highest |
| 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.