Compare towns
Newington vs Durham 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
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k median).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampton Falls has the highest household income ($166k).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Newington | Durham | Exeter | Hampton Falls |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 939Lowest |
10,681 |
16,151Highest |
2,328 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +7.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 48.7±10.1 12% above NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
49.5±7.3Highest 14% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.1%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
25%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.9%±1.8 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $145,833±$46k 47% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$166,157±$14kHighest 68% above NH |
| Hampton Falls and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
$772,600±$76k 92% above NH |
| Newington and Hampton Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,852±$475 24% above NH |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,081Lowest 9% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
27.2%±22.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
86.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984Highest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 23 min 13% below NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
32 minHighest 21% above NH |
| Work from home | 8%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21.8%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Falls and Exeter 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 | — | #9 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Newington School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampton Falls School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| 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.