Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Rochester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
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%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
9,102Lowest |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
43±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
| 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 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 11% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| 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 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 13.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.