Compare towns
Allenstown vs Exeter vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
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 | Allenstown | Exeter | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,743Lowest |
16,151Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Allenstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$397Lowest 14% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Hooksett 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 | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Allenstown School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 8 photos → | 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.