Compare towns
Hampstead vs Cornish vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Cornish has the most affordable homes ($296k median).
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.
| Measure | Hampstead | Cornish | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
1,816Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Lowest 5% above NH |
54±8.3Highest 25% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Cornish and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 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+ | 21.8%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.3%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Cornish and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
40.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±0.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest 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 | $112,348±$18kHighest 13% above NH |
$91,821±$2kLowest 7% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% 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 | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$296,000±$69kLowest 26% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% 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 | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,221±$227Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$5,796Lowest 13% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
40.5%±38.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest 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 | 3.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
94.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Cornish School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 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.