Compare towns
Exeter vs Hooksett vs Amherst vs Stratham
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%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k 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 | Exeter | Hooksett | Amherst | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
15,057 |
11,861 |
7,754Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Amherst 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Stratham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 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 | $110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$151,998±$20k 53% above NH |
| Amherst and Stratham 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 |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773 47% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Exeter 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% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.9% NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Amherst and Stratham 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 | #20 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 10.4Lowest |
— |
| 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.