Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Plymouth
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).
Plymouth has the youngest population (median age 24.6).
Plymouth is a college town. 33.7% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Plymouth |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,328Lowest |
6,601 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
-4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
24.6±3.4Lowest 43% below 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%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.6%±3.6Lowest 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
12%±2.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
54%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
33.7%±3.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$77,027±$26kLowest 22% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$292,400±$22kLowest 27% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
$1,108±$255Lowest 26% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls 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 |
$6,288Lowest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
33.8%±11.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
18.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
56.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
18 minLowest 31% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter 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 | — | #47 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Plymouth School District · Pemi-Baker Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Plymouth Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
| 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.