Compare towns

Exeter vs Hooksett vs Brewer

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Brewer has the most affordable homes ($245k 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.

MeasureExeterHooksettBrewer
People
Population
16,151Highest
15,057
9,652Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+12.2%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.8±2.3Highest
18% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
40.1±4.8Lowest
3% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17%±2.7Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
20.9%±4.3Highest
U.S.: 22%
Brewer 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
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.4%±3.6
U.S.: 17.2%
Exeter and Brewer 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
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
35%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
6.1%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
7.7%±2.9
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$110,346±$13k
37% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$66,613±$9kLowest
17% below U.S.
Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$456,600±$21kHighest
37% above U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$245,300±$21kLowest
26% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,856±$223Highest
31% above U.S.
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,086±$54Lowest
23% below U.S.
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
183% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$3,374Lowest
8% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
59%±11.3Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
55.7%±13.3
U.S.: 51.1%
Exeter and Brewer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4.7%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
12.5%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
69.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
59.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1959Lowest
21 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
25 min
6% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
17 minLowest
36% below U.S.
Work from home
19.9%±3.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
6.9%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Exeter and Hooksett 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 #32 of 133 in ME
School district Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District Hooksett School District Brewer Public Schools
High school in town Exeter High School None in town Brewer High School
Students per teacherat that high school
12.1Lowest
—
14.0Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History 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.