Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Northbridge
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 homeowners (82.1%).
Northbridge has the youngest population (median age 43.8).
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.
| Measure | Exeter | Hampstead | Northbridge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
9,102Lowest |
16,458Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
43.8±2.6Lowest 13% 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%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.1%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Northbridge 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% |
16.4%±2.1Lowest 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% |
36.9%Lowest 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% |
4.3%±1.3Lowest 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±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$111,319±$19k 38% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Northbridge 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. |
$448,600±$15kLowest 35% 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±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,207±$102Lowest 15% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
$4,821Lowest 55% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.2%±9.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Northbridge 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% |
7.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.2%±3.6Lowest 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 | #226 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Northbridge |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Northbridge High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.8Lowest |
| 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.