Compare towns
Exeter vs Hooksett vs Brewer vs Kingston
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).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
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 | Brewer | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
15,057 |
9,652 |
6,275Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±4.8Lowest 3% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7Highest 43% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.9%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest 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%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.4%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Kingston and Exeter 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% |
35.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.7%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$105,330±$12k 30% above 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±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$245,300±$21kLowest 26% below U.S. |
$492,900±$58kHighest 48% above U.S. |
| Kingston 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 31% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,086±$54Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,393±$156 about the U.S. 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 183% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,374Lowest 8% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% 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% |
46.9%±46.4 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
12.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest 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% |
74.4% 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. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 36% below U.S. |
34 minHighest 29% above 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% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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 | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Brewer Public Schools | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Brewer High School | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 14.0Highest |
12.9 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.