Compare towns
Hampton Falls vs Exeter vs Center Harbor
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton Falls has the most expensive homes ($773k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Center Harbor 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 Falls | Exeter | Center Harbor |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,328 |
16,151Highest |
955Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
| Center Harbor and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
47.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$104,313±$16kLowest 5% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $772,600±$76kHighest 92% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$463,800±$74k 15% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,852±$475Lowest 24% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
— |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 27.2%±22.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982Highest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls 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 | Hampton Falls School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| 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.