Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Nelson 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 Falls | Nelson | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,328 |
648Lowest |
984 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and South Hampton 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% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls 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 |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$661,100±$45k 64% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and South Hampton 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 |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Hampton Falls 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 | Hampton Falls School District | Nelson School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | 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.