Compare towns
Exeter vs Hanover vs Hampton Falls vs Newfields
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%).
Hanover has the youngest population (median age 28.7).
Hampton Falls has the oldest population (median age 49.5).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hampton Falls | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
11,685 |
2,328 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Newfields 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% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$169,583±$36k 71% above NH |
$166,157±$14k 68% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Newfields and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| Hanover and Hampton Falls 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 |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,852±$475Lowest 24% above NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| Hanover and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Newfields 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 | — | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hampton Falls School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
10.7Lowest |
— | — |
| 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.