Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampton vs Stratham 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).
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 | Stratham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
16,426Highest |
7,754Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hampstead 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% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 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±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,781Highest 47% above 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% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #43 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 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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 |
— | — |
| 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.