Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton Falls vs Portsmouth vs Wilmot
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 highest household income ($166k).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Wilmot has the most affordable homes ($400k 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 | Portsmouth | Wilmot |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
2,328 |
22,545Highest |
1,487Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
53±2.4Highest 22% above NH |
| Wilmot 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±3.2 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Wilmot 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% |
21.9%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.3%±4.6 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% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
58.7% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3%±3.4Lowest 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 |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$117,759±$15k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$399,600±$43kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Portsmouth 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 |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,125±$289Lowest 25% below NH |
| Portsmouth 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$6,651Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.1%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
83.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
32 min 21% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4Highest NH: 16.8% |
18.9%±3.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District | Portsmouth School District | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.