Compare towns
Hampstead vs Exeter vs South Hampton
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 people working from home (21%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Hampton has the highest household income ($153k).
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 | Exeter | South Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
16,151Highest |
984Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4Lowest 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+ | 44.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest 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±$18k 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
| South Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
| South Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Lowest 30% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest 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 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | South Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.