Compare towns
South Hampton vs Exeter vs Nashua
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hampton has the most expensive homes ($661k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
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 | South Hampton | Exeter | Nashua |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 984Lowest |
16,151 |
91,294Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.8% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.1±5.3 4% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
| Exeter and South Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 23.3%±5.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
| South Hampton and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 52.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
5%±0.6 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $152,500±$44kHighest 54% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
| South Hampton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $661,100±$45kHighest 64% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,889±$489Highest 27% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,737±$41Lowest 16% 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 | $9,109Highest 37% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,799Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 30%±40.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1979Highest same as NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 6% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 17%±3.9Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Nashua 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH |
| School district | South Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Nashua School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Nashua High School South |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.