Compare towns

Exeter vs Hampstead vs Keene vs Ogunquit

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureExeterHampsteadKeeneOgunquit
People
Population
16,151
9,102
22,939Highest
1,379Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
-1.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3
18% above U.S.
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
37.6±2.3Lowest
3% below U.S.
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±1.6
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
44.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
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%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$112,348±$18k
39% above U.S.
$78,445±$8kLowest
about the U.S. average
$114,259±$56kHighest
42% above U.S.
Ogunquit 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
37% above U.S.
$521,100±$45k
57% above U.S.
$252,500±$12kLowest
24% below U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,299±$149Lowest
8% below U.S.
$1,342±$68
5% below U.S.
—
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
$6,812
118% above U.S.
$4,473Lowest
43% above 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%
0%±61.1Lowest
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%
U.S.: 12.5%
10.1%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
55.1%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
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.
1978
2 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.
26 min
about the U.S. average
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7
U.S.: 15.1%
15.6%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 —
High school in town Exeter High School None in town Keene High School —
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
—
12.3Highest
—
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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.