Compare towns
Hampton vs Bow vs Exeter vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 51.2).
Bow has the highest household income ($173k).
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 | Hampton | Bow | Exeter | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101 |
8,335Lowest |
16,151Highest |
9,102 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7Highest 18% above NH |
41.5±2Lowest 4% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
25%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Bow and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±2.5Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
60.3%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Bow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4kLowest about the NH average |
$172,857±$16kHighest 75% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$506,500±$34k 26% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,654±$93 11% above NH |
$1,539±$178 3% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872Lowest 3% above NH |
$9,584Highest 44% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
39%±13.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.7%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
87.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
22.7%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Bow 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #26 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Bow School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | — | Bow High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.