Compare towns
Exeter vs Sunapee vs Hampstead
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%).
Sunapee has the oldest population (median age 56.7).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Sunapee | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
3,416Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee 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% |
50.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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 |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
| 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 13% above NH |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$1,713±$451 15% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$4,400Lowest 34% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.9% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 23% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Sunapee School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | Sunapee Sr. High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
11.9Lowest |
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| 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.