Compare towns
Exeter vs Hooksett vs Newfields vs Strafford
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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Strafford has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
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 | Newfields | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
15,057 |
2,023Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Strafford 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% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Strafford 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Strafford 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% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Newfields 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
| Newfields and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,814 32% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Exeter 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Newfields School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | 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.