What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hampden has the most kids (25.8% under 18).

Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).

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.

Raising kidsAffordabilityOwning a homeShort commuteWorking from homeYounger crowdSettled, older crowdGrowing town

Measure	Hampden	Exeter
People
Population	7,896Lowest	16,151Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census	+6.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4%	+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4%
Median age	41±2.9Lowest 5% above U.S.	45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S.
	Exeter and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18	25.8%±5.7Highest U.S.: 22%	17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22%
Age 65+	17.2%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2%	24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+	45.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7%	59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents	5.3%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4%	6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4%
	Exeter and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian	$111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S.	$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S.
	Hampden and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied	$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S.	$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly	$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S.	$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly	$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S.	$8,814Highest 183% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent	22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1%	59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1%
Below poverty line	7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5%	4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes	85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2%	69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year	1982Highest 2 yrs newer than U.S.	1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way	23 minLowest 14% below U.S.	25 minHighest 6% below U.S.
Work from home	21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1%	19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1%
	Hampden 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	#6 of 133 in ME	#22 of 120 in NH
School district	RSU 22	Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school in town	Hampden Academy	Exeter High School
Students per teacherat that high school	14.8Highest	12.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story	None yet	59 photos →

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.