Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Salem
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Salem has the youngest population (median age 44.6).
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 | Salem |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
9,102Lowest |
30,964Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
44.6±2.7Lowest 3% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.2%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
18.6%±1.7Lowest 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% |
38.7%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±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$110,490±$9k 12% above NH |
| Hampstead and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$473,300±$16k 18% above NH |
| Hampstead and Salem 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 |
$1,625±$146 9% above NH |
| Exeter and Salem are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,992Lowest 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±9.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Salem 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% |
5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
16.3%±2.9Lowest 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 | #38 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Salem School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Salem High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.2Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.