Compare towns
Hampton vs Exeter vs Danvers vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Danvers has the most expensive homes ($644k median).
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 | Danvers | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
16,151 |
28,098Highest |
6,758Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
45.3±3Lowest 16% above U.S. |
55.5±3.7 43% above U.S. |
| 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.2%±2Highest U.S.: 22% |
12.6%±3.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Danvers 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
22.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.2%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
48.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±1.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Danvers 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 18% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$125,395±$10kHighest 55% above U.S. |
$87,019±$19kLowest 8% above U.S. |
| Danvers and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$644,200±$23kHighest 94% above U.S. |
$480,100±$48k 44% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,076±$192Highest 47% above U.S. |
$1,149±$304Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Danvers and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,654 113% above U.S. |
$5,006Lowest 61% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.8%±8.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.5%±9.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.3%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.7%±4.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #91 of 282 in MA | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School District · Danvers | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School | Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1 |
12.8Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.