Compare towns
Hampton vs Amherst vs Exeter
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 55.8).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Amherst | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
11,861Lowest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Hampton and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest 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 | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #31 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
10.4 |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.