Compare towns
Exeter vs Seabrook vs South 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 oldest population (median age 54).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k 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 | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
8,427 |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
54±1.9Highest 25% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
14.8%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South 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 NH: 20.1% |
31.5%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Seabrook 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
27.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.3 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$84,349±$15kLowest 15% below NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South 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 13% above NH |
$443,500±$40kLowest 10% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,542±$174Lowest 3% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$5,785Lowest 13% below NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±10 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Seabrook 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% |
12.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
68.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
21 minLowest 22% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
10.5%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and South Hampton 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 | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Seabrook School District | South Hampton 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 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.