Compare towns
Exeter vs Hooksett vs Nashua vs Hampstead
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 highest household income ($118k).
Nashua has the most renters (44.2% rent).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
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 | Nashua | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151 |
15,057 |
91,294Highest |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40±1.3Lowest 8% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above 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%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Nashua 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%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 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±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$96,326±$5kLowest about the NH average |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead 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±$26k about the NH average |
$403,900±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% 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 |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,737±$41 16% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Exeter and Nashua 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,799 about the NH average |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
55.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #67 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Nashua School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Nashua High School South | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | 12.8Highest |
— |
| 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.