Compare towns
Hampton vs North Hampton vs Exeter 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 oldest population (median age 55.8).
North Hampton has the highest household income ($146k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | North Hampton | Exeter | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
4,543Lowest |
16,151 |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 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% |
19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton 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% |
26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest 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% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| North Hampton 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 37% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Exeter and North 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 |
$8,529 28% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest 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% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Exeter High School | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.