Compare towns
Newton vs South 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
Newton has the oldest population (median age 47.8).
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
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 | Newton | South Hampton | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836 |
984Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
45.1±5.3Lowest 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
| Newton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29k 40% above NH |
$152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| South Hampton and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$456,600±$21kLowest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Lowest 13% above NH |
$1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| South Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124Lowest 22% above NH |
$9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
88.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Highest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Newton 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | — | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.