Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Wakefield
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%).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k 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 | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
9,102Lowest |
27,793Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7Lowest 9% 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% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Wakefield 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% |
19%±1.9Lowest 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.7%Highest 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% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest 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±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14kHighest 66% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
| Wakefield and Exeter 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. |
$7,779Lowest 149% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Hampstead 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 | #179 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.7Lowest |
| 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.