Compare towns
Atkinson vs Derry 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
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Atkinson | Derry | Exeter | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 7,267Lowest |
34,116Highest |
16,151 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
40.3±1.6Lowest 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Atkinson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.7% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.8%±4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Derry are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Atkinson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,547±$138 4% above 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 | $6,918 4% above NH |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 6% above NH |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #60 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.