Compare towns

Exeter vs North Hampton vs Hudson

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).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k 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.

MeasureExeterNorth HamptonHudson
People
Population
16,151
4,543Lowest
25,557Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+3.8%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
45.8±2.3
6% above NH
50.5±3.3Highest
17% above NH
45.7±1.9Lowest
6% above 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%
16.8%±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%
20.7%±2.4Lowest
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%Highest
NH: 40.6%
54.5%
NH: 40.6%
34.2%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
NH: 6%
2.5%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
7%±1.7Highest
NH: 6%
Hudson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,346±$13kLowest
11% above NH
$146,458±$29kHighest
48% above NH
$124,213±$6k
25% above NH
North Hampton and Hudson 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
$670,400±$61kHighest
67% above NH
$438,900±$11kLowest
9% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
24% above NH
$1,805±$106
21% above NH
$1,735±$123Lowest
16% above 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
$8,814Highest
32% above NH
$8,529
28% above NH
$6,636Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
NH: 48.2%
23.5%±21Lowest
NH: 48.2%
34.3%±7.2
NH: 48.2%
Below poverty line
4.7%Highest
NH: 7.2%
2.9%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
4.6%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
91.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
82.6%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979Lowest
same as NH
1984Highest
5 yrs newer than NH
1983
4 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
7% below NH
25 minLowest
8% below NH
31 minHighest
18% above NH
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
NH: 16.8%
25.9%±6.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
19.6%±3.6Lowest
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 #63 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District North Hampton School District Hudson School District
High school in town Exeter High School None in town Alvirne High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Highest
—
11.6Lowest
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.