Compare towns
Windham vs Exeter vs Hampton Beach vs Hudson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Windham has the most kids (27.4% under 18).
Exeter has the shortest commute (25 min average).
Hampton Beach has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Hudson has the most affordable homes ($439k median).
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 | Windham | Exeter | Hampton Beach | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,038 |
16,151 |
2,605Lowest |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +16.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+14.2% NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.1±2.9Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
60.4±2.4Highest 39% above NH |
45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
3.1%±2.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
33.7%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 62.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.8%±1.8 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
0.6%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Hudson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $189,583±$19kHighest 91% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$82,557±$17kLowest 17% below NH |
$124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $723,300±$50kHighest 80% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$508,900±$76k 26% above NH |
$438,900±$11kLowest 9% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $3,218±$350Highest 116% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,375±$130Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$6,115Lowest 8% below NH |
$6,636 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.2%±50.9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton Beach and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
62.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1996Highest 17 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 15% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.9%±4.4 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
26.9%±6.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton Beach and Windham 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 | #13 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Windham School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | Windham High School | Exeter High School | — | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.8Highest |
12.1 |
— | 11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.