Compare towns
Hampton vs Exeter vs Needham vs Hampton Beach
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has the most affordable homes ($457k median).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hampton Beach has grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.2%).
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 | Exeter | Needham | Hampton Beach |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426 |
16,151 |
32,459Highest |
2,605Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1 43% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Lowest 11% above U.S. |
60.4±2.4Highest 55% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
33.7%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampton Beach 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest 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% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Exeter and Needham 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. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$82,557±$17kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 65% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$508,900±$76k 53% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 15% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,375±$130Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 118% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,115Lowest 96% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
61.7%±20.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hampton Beach and Exeter 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
62.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1979Highest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 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 5% above U.S. |
25 min 4% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.9%±6.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Hampton Beach 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 | #19 of 282 in MA | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Needham | — |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School | Needham High | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
11.9 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.