Compare towns
Exeter vs South Hampton vs Durham vs Newfields
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%).
South Hampton has the most kids (23.3% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | South Hampton | Durham | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
984Lowest |
15,080 |
2,023 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Exeter and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
68.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Newfields and South Hampton 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 |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$646,400±$34k 61% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,875±$323 26% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Lowest 32% above NH |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Exeter 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | South Hampton School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.3Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 51 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.