Compare towns

Exeter vs Springfield vs Hampstead

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Springfield has the most affordable homes ($245k median).
Hampstead has the most homeowners (82.1%).

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.

MeasureExeterSpringfieldHampstead
People
Population
16,151
154,749Highest
9,102Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+1.9%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
33.7±0.5Lowest
13% below U.S.
45.3±6.1
16% above U.S.
Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
24.2%±0.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
21.3%±3.7
U.S.: 22%
Springfield and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
24.4%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
13.2%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
21.8%±4
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Hampstead 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
U.S.: 35.7%
20.5%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
44.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8
U.S.: 6.4%
7.5%±0.5Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±1.6Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Springfield and Exeter 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
37% above U.S.
$52,656±$2kLowest
35% below U.S.
$112,348±$18kHighest
39% above U.S.
Hampstead 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
37% above U.S.
$245,000±$4kLowest
26% below U.S.
$521,100±$45kHighest
57% above U.S.
Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,144±$55Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,299±$149
8% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$8,814Highest
183% above U.S.
$3,695Lowest
18% above U.S.
$8,634
177% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
57.7%±3.1
U.S.: 51.1%
44.1%±20.2Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Springfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
25.8%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
49.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.1%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1952Lowest
28 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
20 minLowest
23% below U.S.
30 minHighest
14% above U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7
U.S.: 15.1%
8.4%±0.9Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
21%±4.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hampstead 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 #276 of 282 in MA #49 of 120 in NH
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Springfield Hampstead School District
High school in town Exeter High School Springfield Central High None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
12.2Highest
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On TownTapestry
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U.S. 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.