Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Ossipee vs Hampstead
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 has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Ossipee | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,426Highest |
4,521Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Hampton and Ossipee 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% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Ossipee 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% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Ossipee 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% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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 |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Exeter 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 |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Exeter 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Hampstead 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.