Compare towns

Exeter vs Hampstead vs Springfield

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%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasureExeterHampsteadSpringfield
People
Population
16,151
9,102Lowest
154,749Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% 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%
24.2%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Springfield 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%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
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%
20.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Springfield and Exeter 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.
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% 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.
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below 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.
$1,144±$55Lowest
19% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% 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%
57.7%±3.1
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Springfield 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%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
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 #276 of 282 in MA
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Hampstead School District Springfield
High school in town Exeter High School None in town Springfield Central High
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
—
12.2Highest
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.