Compare towns
Newfields vs Thornton vs Hampton vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Thornton has the most affordable homes ($352k median).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Newfields | Thornton | Hampton | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,023Lowest |
2,799 |
16,426Highest |
16,151 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+8.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 44.1±1.8Lowest about the NH average |
51.1±3.4 18% above NH |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Hampton and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.9%±4.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
46.3% NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7.5%±7.2Highest NH: 6% |
4.8%±2.9 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$90,022±$17kLowest 9% below NH |
$95,233±$9k 4% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$351,900±$20kLowest 13% below NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,270±$428Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,628±$94 9% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$5,032Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 43.3%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.7%±24.7 NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Thornton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
9.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.3% NH: 72.8% |
73.8% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min 4% below NH |
23 minLowest 15% below NH |
26 minHighest 3% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 25.5%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
29.8%±9.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Thornton and Newfields 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 | — | #18 of 120 in NH | #31 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Newfields School District | Thornton School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.