Compare towns
Hampton vs Exeter vs Brookline vs Hampton Beach
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 most expensive homes ($545k median).
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Brookline has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
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 | Exeter | Brookline | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101 |
16,151Highest |
5,736 |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+13% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.2±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
26.7%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
11.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.2% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
57.7% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.3%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,163±$4k about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$171,046±$4kHighest 73% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$544,400±$38k 35% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
| Hampton and Brookline 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 |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,500±$1kHighest 68% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
| Brookline and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,872 3% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
23.8%±43.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest 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 | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
0.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1979 same as NH |
1993Highest 14 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
24.7%±5.8 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Brookline 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #23 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Brookline 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 | 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.