Compare towns
Exeter vs North Hampton vs Durham
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%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | North Hampton | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,543Lowest |
15,080 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| North Hampton 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% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| North Hampton and Exeter 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% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| North Hampton and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
| Exeter and North Hampton 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 |
$8,529Lowest 28% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 7% below NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton and Exeter 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.