Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs New Castle
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 kids (19.1% under 18).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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 | Hampton Falls | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,328 |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| New Castle and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Hampton Falls 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest 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±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle and Hampton Falls 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 |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475Lowest 24% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,509Lowest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle 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 | New Castle 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 |
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.