Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Kennebunk
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Kennebunk has the most people working from home (32.5%).
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 | Kennebunk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,102Lowest |
11,820 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
54.6±3.3Highest 40% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.7%±3 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Kennebunk 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%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
30%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kennebunk and Exeter 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
51.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4Lowest 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$107,804±$8kLowest 34% 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±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$487,700±$21k 47% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Kennebunk 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±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,425±$290 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Kennebunk 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. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$4,999Lowest 60% 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% |
37.1%±10.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.5%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Kennebunk and Hampstead 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 | #9 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | RSU 21 |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Kennebunk High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.