Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Keene vs Mapleton
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%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Keene | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
9,102 |
22,939Highest |
1,884Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
41.8±6 7% 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%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest 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% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$91,731±$25k 14% 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. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12k 24% below U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below 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. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,342±$68 5% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$6,812 118% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Keene 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% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Keene School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Keene High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| 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.