Compare towns
Hampton vs Exeter vs Sutton vs Meredith
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Sutton has the most homeowners (95.7%).
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
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 | Exeter | Sutton | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 10,101 |
16,151Highest |
2,239Lowest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.2±1.7 18% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
48.1±4.1 11% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Meredith and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26.9%±3.1 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±1.7 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Sutton 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 |
$130,313±$31kHighest 32% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Sutton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $545,300±$63kHighest 35% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith 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±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Exeter and Sutton 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$7,652 15% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.9%±13.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 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%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.8% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Highest same as NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 20.5%±3.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Meredith and Hampton 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 | — | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Kearsarge Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | Kearsarge Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
11.1 |
| 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.