Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Lawrence
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).
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).
Lawrence has the most renters (71.9% rent).
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 | Lawrence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
9,102Lowest |
88,736Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
32.6±0.9Lowest 16% below 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% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
26.3%±1.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Lawrence 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% |
10.5%±0.9Lowest 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% |
16.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±0.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Lawrence 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. |
$60,433±$3kLowest 25% below 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. |
$415,200±$23kLowest 25% above 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±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,662±$50 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Lawrence 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. |
$3,422Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
60.6%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lawrence and Exeter 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% |
17.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
28.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1950Lowest 30 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.8%±1.2Lowest 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 | #278 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Lawrence |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Lawrence High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.