Compare towns
Exeter vs Hanover vs Norwich vs Hampstead
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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 21.8).
Norwich has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Hanover | Norwich | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,479 |
3,640Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
21.8±0.3Lowest 44% below U.S. |
40.8±3.2 5% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Norwich and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.6%±3.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
16%±3.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
89.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
81% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
49.8%±2.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$153,281±$26kHighest 90% above U.S. |
$140,313±$12k 74% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Hanover and Norwich are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$842,600±$97kHighest 153% above U.S. |
$637,500±$76k 92% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,254±$249Highest 60% above U.S. |
$1,460±$322 3% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
| Hanover and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$8,634Lowest 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±17.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
30.7%±19.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hanover 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% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
71.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
19 minLowest 28% below U.S. |
19 min 28% below U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hanover and Norwich 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #1 of 70 in VT | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Norwich School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | None yet |
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.