Compare towns

Exeter vs Hampton Beach vs Newfields vs Sutton

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 shortest commute (25 min average).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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.

MeasureExeterHampton BeachNewfieldsSutton
People
Population
16,151Highest
2,605
2,023Lowest
2,239
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%
NH: +4.6%
+14.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%
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
48.1±4.1
11% 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%
20.5%±3.8Highest
NH: 18.2%
Sutton 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%
21.6%±5.9
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
59.2%
NH: 40.6%
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
68.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
44.3%
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%
4.9%±3.6
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
$130,313±$31k
32% above NH
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21k
13% above NH
$508,900±$76k
26% above NH
$646,400±$34kHighest
61% above NH
$362,600±$16kLowest
10% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223
24% above NH
$1,375±$130Lowest
8% below NH
$1,875±$323Highest
26% above NH
$1,656±$614
11% above NH
Newfields and Exeter 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
$7,652
15% 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%
27.6%±47.2Lowest
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%
4.8%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%
NH: 72.8%
62.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
95.3%
NH: 72.8%
95.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
same as NH
1971Lowest
8 yrs older than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1971Lowest
8 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
29 minHighest
10% 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%
14.8%±5.6Lowest
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 Kearsarge Regional School District
High school in town Exeter High School — None in town Kearsarge Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
— —
10.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.