Compare towns
Alton vs Exeter vs Hooksett vs Wolfeboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alton has the most homeowners (93.7%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Wolfeboro has the most expensive homes ($547k 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 | Alton | Exeter | Hooksett | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,994Lowest |
16,151Highest |
15,057 |
6,571 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Wolfeboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wolfeboro and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8 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 | $113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,531 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.1% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 24% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro and Exeter 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Prospect Mountain High School | Exeter High School | None in town | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.