Compare towns
Hampton vs Exeter vs Amherst 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 ($550k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Amherst has the highest household income ($153k).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Amherst | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
16,151 |
11,861 |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
| Hampton and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 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%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Lowest 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+ | 42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest 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±$9k 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39kHighest 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% 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 | $6,813 about the NH average |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest 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 | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1978 1 yr older than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Meredith 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School | Souhegan Coop High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.4 |
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.