Compare towns

Nottingham 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

Nottingham has the most kids (23.9% under 18).
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.

MeasureNottinghamHamptonExeter
People
Population
5,357Lowest
16,426Highest
16,151
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.3%
NH: +4.6%
+5.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+12.2%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
38.8±6.7Lowest
10% below NH
55.8±2.1Highest
29% above NH
45.8±2.3
6% above NH
Kids under 18
23.9%±5.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
11.6%±2.3Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17%±2.7
NH: 18.2%
Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
18.4%±4.2Lowest
NH: 20.1%
30.9%±2.8Highest
NH: 20.1%
24.4%±2.8
NH: 20.1%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
40.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
42.8%
NH: 40.6%
59.2%Highest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
5.9%±2.6
NH: 6%
3.1%±1.1Lowest
NH: 6%
6.1%±1.8Highest
NH: 6%
Exeter and Nottingham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$122,201±$20kHighest
23% above NH
$95,233±$9kLowest
4% below NH
$110,346±$13k
11% above NH
Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$457,500±$26k
14% above NH
$550,200±$39kHighest
37% above NH
$456,600±$21kLowest
13% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,068±$1kHighest
39% above NH
$1,628±$94Lowest
9% above NH
$1,856±$223
24% above NH
Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$7,319
10% above NH
$6,813Lowest
about the NH average
$8,814Highest
32% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
92.1%±44.9Highest
NH: 48.2%
56.8%±10.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
59%±11.3
NH: 48.2%
Nottingham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
5.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4.7%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
94.3%Highest
NH: 72.8%
73.8%
NH: 72.8%
69.1%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1992Highest
13 yrs newer than NH
1978Lowest
1 yr older than NH
1979
same as NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
34 minHighest
27% above NH
26 min
3% below NH
25 minLowest
7% below NH
Work from home
22.2%±5.8Highest
NH: 16.8%
21.7%±3.3
NH: 16.8%
19.9%±3.7Lowest
NH: 16.8%
Nottingham and Hampton 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 #15 of 120 in NH #31 of 120 in NH #22 of 120 in NH
School district Nottingham School District Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District
High school 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 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.