Compare towns
Exeter vs Hanover vs Sullivan 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%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Sullivan has the most affordable homes ($237k median).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Sullivan | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
11,685 |
687Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Sullivan 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% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$106,667±$20kLowest 8% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| 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 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 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% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hanover High School | — | 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.