Compare towns
Exeter vs Mapleton vs Meredith 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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Mapleton | Meredith | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,884Lowest |
6,758 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.8±6Lowest 7% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Meredith 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,149±$304 19% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$5,006 61% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Meredith 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Meredith 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.