Compare towns
Exeter vs Hudson vs Amherst 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%).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hampstead has the youngest population (median age 45.3).
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 | Hudson | Amherst | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
25,557Highest |
11,861 |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Amherst 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% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst 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 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest 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% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Amherst and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Hudson 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 |
$6,636Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 min 18% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #63 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hudson School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Alvirne High School | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.6 |
10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.