Compare towns
Exeter vs Ossipee vs Wilder 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
Ossipee has the oldest population (median age 50).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k 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 | Ossipee | Wilder | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
4,521 |
3,087Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
50±4.6Highest 29% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Lowest 16% above U.S. |
| Ossipee 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% |
19.5%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Ossipee 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% |
26.3%±5.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Ossipee 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% |
24.8%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Wilder 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. |
$90,521±$22k 12% above U.S. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% below 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. |
$325,500±$23k about the U.S. average |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% below U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Exeter 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. |
$1,601±$245 13% above U.S. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Ossipee 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. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,505 76% above U.S. |
$8,634 177% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
72%±16.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ossipee and Exeter 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% |
8.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
17 minLowest 37% below U.S. |
30 min 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.6%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | — | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | — | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.