Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton Beach vs Newfields vs South Hampton
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 the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
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 | Hampton Beach | Newfields | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,605 |
2,023 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Newfields 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 11% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
| Newfields and South Hampton 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 |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Exeter 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% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Newfields 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 | — | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Newfields School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.