Companion Care in Exeter, NH: Senior Companions at Home

Local figures

Companion Care in Exeter, NH: the local picture

2,187

residents 65 or older (22% of Exeter)

45%

of residents 65+ in households live alone (24% in Rockingham County)

7.8%

of residents 5+ speak a language other than English at home

6.2%

of households have no vehicle (3.1% in Rockingham County)

About 957 residents of Exeter aged 65 or older live alone, 45% of older residents in households (24% in Rockingham County). They are the people companion care is usually for: mostly independent, but on their own for long stretches of the day.

6.2% of Exeter households have no vehicle (3.1% in Rockingham County). A companion who drives can turn a week at home into appointments, shopping and visits.

Of the 2,187 Exeter residents aged 65 or older, 414 are 85 or older (19%). Before the first visit with someone in that oldest group, ask the family about hearing, eyesight, walking and any memory changes, so the visit is planned around them.

1,129 Exeter households headed by someone 65 or older own their home and 529 rent. A companion visiting a house may also help with mail, light chores and keeping an eye on things; in an apartment building, ask whether visitors sign in.

About 202 older Exeter residents (9.2%) live below the poverty line (6.0% in Rockingham County). For them, Medicaid home and community-based services or the local Area Agency on Aging may cover some companion or homemaker hours, depending on the state program; private pay is not the only route.

About 7.8% of Exeter residents aged 5 and over speak a language other than English at home. The most common are Spanish (244), Tagalog (165), French, Haitian or Cajun (95). If the person you care for is more at ease in one of these languages, say so in your posting; many caregivers list the languages they speak.

Exeter compared with Rockingham County and New Hampshire

Census figure	Exeter	Rockingham County	New Hampshire
Residents 65+ in households who live alone	45%	24%	27%
Residents 65 or older	22%	20%	20%
Residents 5+ who speak a language other than English at home	7.8%	6.5%	7.9%
Households with no vehicle	6.2%	3.1%	4.6%
Residents 65+ below the poverty line (approx.)	9.2%	6.0%	7.7%
Residents 65+ with a disability	29%	26%	28%
Median income, households headed by someone 65+	$58,365	$75,258	—

Older residents in towns around Exeter

Town	Distance	Residents 65+	Live alone (65+)
Hampton, NH	6.5 mi	2,720	34%
Newmarket, NH	6.8 mi	756	38%
Hampton Beach, NH	8.0 mi	879	37%
Amesbury, MA	8.7 mi	3,170	33%
Epping, NH	8.7 mi	762	23%
Portsmouth, NH	10 mi	4,946	32%

Hospitals near Exeter (for rides to appointments)

Hospital with an emergency department	Town	Distance	CMS overall rating	Phone
Exeter Hospital Inc	Exeter, NH	0.3 mi	4 of 5	(603) 778-7311
Portsmouth Regional Hospital	Portsmouth, NH	9.7 mi	3 of 5	(603) 436-5110
Anna Jaques Hospital	Newburyport, MA	12 mi	3 of 5	(978) 463-1000

Straight-line miles from the center of Exeter. Medicare (CMS) data, October 2026; call ahead to confirm. We are not affiliated with these providers.

What it covers

What a companion caregiver can help with

Conversation, cards, puzzles and shared hobbies
Walks and outings to the park, library or senior center
Company at meals, and help preparing them
Rides or escort to appointments, church and visits

Cost

What companion care costs in Exeter

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,864 monthly median income of Exeter households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

Hiring directly, you agree the rate with the caregiver and usually become the household employer (U.S. Department of Labor rules). Some families qualify for programs that pay for care at home; see Medicaid programs for family caregivers: who can be paid, and the rules in 12 states.

Before you hire

What to know before hiring a companion caregiver

Isolation is a health risk, not only a mood. The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that nearly one in four Americans aged 65 and older living in the community is socially isolated, and linked isolation to higher risks of dementia, heart disease and early death (2020 report).

Questions worth asking: What do you enjoy doing with the people you care for? Are you comfortable driving, and is your car insured for passengers? How do you handle a client who does not want company at first? More in our companion care guide.

CaregiverConnect does not run background checks. Check identity, references and any certification yourself before anyone starts. The Safety Center explains how.

Questions

Companion Care in Exeter: common questions

How many seniors live alone in Exeter?

About 957 residents aged 65 or older, 45% of older residents in households (Census ACS 2020–2024) (24% in Rockingham County).

How much does companion care cost in Exeter?

At the New Hampshire median aide wage of $18.64 an hour, 20 hours of help a week comes to about $1,615 a month in wages, which is 33% of the $4,864 monthly median income of Exeter households headed by someone 65 or older. Private rates are agreed directly with the caregiver, so yours may be higher or lower. New Hampshire's minimum wage is $7.25 an hour (U.S. Department of Labor table, updated July 1, 2026).

What does a companion caregiver do in Exeter?

A companion keeps an older adult company and helps around the visit: conversation, activities, walks, meals, errands, rides and reminders. It suits someone who is mostly independent but lonely, or a family that wants someone to check in on weekdays.

More near Exeter

More senior care near Exeter

Companion Care in nearby cities

Other care in Exeter

More for Exeter families

Sources

Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year; CMS provider data (October 25, 2026); U.S. DOL state minimum wages (July 1, 2026); BLS OEWS May 2025 aide wages, which cover employed aides rather than private rates.

Companion Care for Seniors in Exeter, NH