Compare towns
Exeter vs Rye vs Manchester 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%).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Rye | Manchester | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
5,611Lowest |
115,643Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 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% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Manchester 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 11% above NH |
$140,655±$39kHighest 42% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below 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±$21k 13% above NH |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Rye 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Manchester 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% |
6.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
85.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1972 7 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampstead 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Rye School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.