Compare towns
Hampstead vs Windham vs Exeter vs Derry
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the highest household income ($190k).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Derry has the most affordable homes ($432k median).
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 | Windham | Exeter | Derry |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
16,038 |
16,151 |
34,116Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.1±2.9 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below 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% |
27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Windham 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% |
15.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$432,000±$17kLowest 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,103Lowest 22% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Windham 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% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
31 min 15% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.9%±4.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Windham 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #13 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School | Pinkerton Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8 |
12.1Lowest |
13.9Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.