Compare towns
Exeter vs Jay vs Troy 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%).
Jay has the most people working from home (27.3%).
Troy has the shortest commute (24 min average).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
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 | Jay | Troy | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
471Lowest |
1,749 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
44.5±5.7Lowest 14% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.4%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Troy 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% |
15.5%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±3 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
20.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±1.4 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. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$87,938±$11k 9% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18kHighest 39% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45k 30% below U.S. |
$233,200±$21kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $646±$323Lowest 54% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,644 17% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±26.3Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.8%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Jay 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 | — | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Troy School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.