Compare towns
Exeter vs Mapleton vs Wolfeboro 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).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).
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 | Wolfeboro | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,884Lowest |
6,571 |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% 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. |
57±1.8Highest 47% 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% |
13.7%±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% |
34.6%±5.2Highest 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% 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% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$94,375±$22k 17% 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. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro 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 31% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,103±$76 22% 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. |
$4,531 45% 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%±10.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% 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% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
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% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | — | #46 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional 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.