Compare towns
Hampton vs Rye vs Exeter vs Hampton Falls
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).
Rye has the most people working from home (30.9%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
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 | Rye | Exeter | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
5,611 |
16,151 |
2,328Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
55.1±3 27% above NH |
45.8±2.3Lowest 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3 14% above NH |
| Hampton and Rye 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% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Rye 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% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Rye 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% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1 NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls 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 |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Rye 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 |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Hampton Falls 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 |
$7,519 13% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest 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% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981Highest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 3% below NH |
29 min 8% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and Hampton Falls 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 | #2 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Rye School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1Lowest |
— | 12.1Highest |
— |
| 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.