Compare towns
Exeter vs North Hampton vs Thetford
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%).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k median).
Thetford has the most affordable homes ($330k 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 | North Hampton | Thetford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,543 |
2,813Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+7.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50.5±3.3Highest 30% above U.S. |
43.6±6.2Lowest 12% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.4%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
26%±4.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.8%±6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
68%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±4.5Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Thetford 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$146,458±$29kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$88,045±$16kLowest 9% above U.S. |
| North Hampton 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. |
$670,400±$61kHighest 102% above U.S. |
$329,500±$96kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,805±$106 28% above U.S. |
$1,141±$96Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| 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 183% above U.S. |
$8,529 173% above U.S. |
$6,948Lowest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
23.5%±21Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49.7%±30.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Thetford 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% |
2.9%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
91.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1984Highest 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 6% below U.S. |
25 min 7% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±6.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±6.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #40 of 70 in VT |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | North Hampton School District | Thetford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.