Compare towns
Hampton Beach vs Exeter vs Bridgewater
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Beach has the most people working from home (26.9%).
Exeter has the most kids (17% under 18).
Bridgewater has the most homeowners (79.7%).
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 | Hampton Beach | Exeter | Bridgewater |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,605 |
16,151Highest |
1,169Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
58.3±6.3 35% above NH |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.8%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.1%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Bridgewater are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
32.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $82,557±$17k 17% below NH |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
$82,361±$9kLowest 17% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Beach are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $508,900±$76kHighest 26% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$398,600±$65kLowest about the NH average |
| Hampton Beach and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$130 8% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,125±$201Lowest 25% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,115 8% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$2,823Lowest 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
32.1%±13.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.2% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
79.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 5% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
8%±3.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school 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.