Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Hudson vs Stratham
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Hudson has the oldest housing (typical home built 1970).
Stratham has the highest household income ($152k).
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 | Hudson | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,426 |
20,077Highest |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
42.9±1.7 10% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
30.9%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.1%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
46.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Hudson 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 37% above U.S. |
$95,233±$9kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$103,400±$13k 28% above U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$496,800±$22k 49% above U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,406±$82Lowest about the U.S. average |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,813Lowest 118% above U.S. |
$6,892 121% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
40.8%±8.7Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
73.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1970Lowest 10 yrs older than U.S. |
1986Highest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 17% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham and Hampton 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #224 of 282 in MA | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Hudson | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School | Hudson High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
10.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
U.S. 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.