Compare towns
Exeter vs South Hampton vs Hampton Falls vs Stratham
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 the most affordable homes ($457k median).
South Hampton has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Hampton Falls | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
984Lowest |
2,328 |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
41.6±4.9Lowest 4% below NH |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and South Hampton 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% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Falls 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% |
52.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Hampton Falls 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±$45k 64% above NH |
$772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$655,400±$36k 63% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and South Hampton 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±$489 27% above NH |
$1,852±$475Lowest 24% above NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Stratham and South Hampton 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 |
$9,781 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Hampton Falls 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 | — | — | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | South Hampton School District | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | 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 | 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.