Compare towns
Exeter vs Hartford vs Stratham 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%).
Hartford has the most affordable homes ($305k median).
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 | Hartford | Stratham | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
10,736 |
7,754Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
43.2±3.9 11% above U.S. |
41.6±4.9Lowest 7% 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%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3 U.S.: 22% |
23.5%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Stratham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Hartford 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% |
47.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
69.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.9%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$78,125±$7kLowest 3% below U.S. |
$151,998±$20kHighest 88% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$304,500±$26kLowest 8% below U.S. |
$655,400±$36kHighest 97% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,218±$118Lowest 14% below U.S. |
$2,511±$377Highest 78% above U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 183% above U.S. |
$5,773Lowest 85% above U.S. |
$9,781Highest 214% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±12.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
64%±38.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
67.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
18 minLowest 30% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.3%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stratham 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 | #34 of 70 in VT | #43 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hartford School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Hartford High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
9.6Lowest |
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| 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.