Compare towns
Exeter vs Seabrook vs Hampton
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%).
Seabrook has the shortest commute (21 min average).
Hampton has the most expensive homes ($550k 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 | Seabrook | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151 |
8,427Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
54±1.9 25% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Seabrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook and Hampton 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% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampton 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 |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% above NH |
$550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,542±$174Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
| Exeter and 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 |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #114 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Seabrook School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.1Lowest |
| 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.