Compare towns
Exeter vs Hampstead vs Hooksett vs South Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Exeter | Hampstead | Hooksett | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
9,102 |
15,057 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.