Compare towns
Exeter vs Hooksett vs Ogunquit vs Plaistow
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 renters (30.9% rent).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Ogunquit | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
15,057 |
1,379Lowest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Plaistow 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9%Lowest 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% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13kLowest 34% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ogunquit 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Plaistow 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. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | — | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | — | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | — | 11.4Lowest |
| 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.