Compare towns
Exeter vs Nelson vs Hampton
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%).
Nelson has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Nelson | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
648Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.3±11.7Lowest about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson and Hampton 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nelson School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.