Compare towns
Dracut vs Exeter vs Hooksett vs Newfields
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Dracut has the most kids (21.4% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Dracut | Exeter | Hooksett | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 32,574Highest |
16,151 |
15,057 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.7±2 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.1±1.8 13% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
18.9%±1.6 U.S.: 22% |
| Dracut and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.2%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.5%±7.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $114,036±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$197,885±$15kHighest 145% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $473,900±$17k 42% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$646,400±$34kHighest 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,839±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,875±$323Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,375Lowest 72% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.6%±7.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.3%±40.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Dracut are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
95.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 5 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 15% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 11.4%±2Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.5%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Newfields 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 | #201 of 282 in MA | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Dracut | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | Dracut Senior High | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.