Compare towns
Exeter vs Portsmouth vs Rye vs Hampstead
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%).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Portsmouth | Rye | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
22,545Highest |
5,611Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Rye 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% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
61.5% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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 11% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Rye and Hampstead 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 |
$688,500±$39k 71% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,869±$111Highest 25% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Portsmouth and Exeter 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 |
$8,018 20% above NH |
$7,519Lowest 13% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% |
6.8% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Portsmouth 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 | #11 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Portsmouth School District | Rye School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Portsmouth High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.