Compare towns
Exeter vs South Hampton vs Portsmouth vs Brentwood
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).
Portsmouth has the most renters (48.1% rent).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Portsmouth | Brentwood |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
984Lowest |
22,545Highest |
4,641 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
42.9±2Lowest about the NH average |
43.8±3.1 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% |
14%±1.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.4%±4.1 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Brentwood 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%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.9%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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% NH: 40.6% |
64%Highest NH: 40.6% |
49%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.2 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Portsmouth 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 |
$152,500±$44k 54% above NH |
$106,219±$7kLowest 7% above NH |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
| Brentwood 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 |
$688,500±$39kHighest 71% above NH |
$528,100±$75k 31% above NH |
| Portsmouth 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±$223Lowest 24% above NH |
$1,889±$489 27% above NH |
$1,869±$111 25% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
| Brentwood and South Hampton 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 |
$9,109 37% above NH |
$8,018Lowest 20% above NH |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50.4%±7.2 NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
51.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1959Lowest 20 yrs older than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
22 minLowest 17% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4 NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood and Portsmouth 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 | — | #11 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | South Hampton School District | Portsmouth School District | Brentwood School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Portsmouth High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.4Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.