Compare towns
Exeter vs Thornton 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%).
Thornton has the most people working from home (29.8%).
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 | Thornton | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
2,799Lowest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
51.1±3.4Highest 18% above NH |
45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
| Thornton and Exeter 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% |
13.9%±4.6Lowest 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%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| 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 NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9Lowest 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 |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$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 |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$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 |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Thornton 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% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Hampstead 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 | #18 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Thornton School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
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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.