Compare towns
Exeter vs Hooksett vs Ossipee vs Kingston
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 the most people working from home (19.9%).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Ossipee has the most affordable homes ($326k 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 | Ossipee | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
15,057 |
4,521Lowest |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
50±4.6 15% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kingston and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Kingston 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% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
35.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 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 |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
| 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 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$325,500±$23kLowest 19% below NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
| 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 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,393±$156Lowest 7% below NH |
| 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 32% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,401Lowest 34% below NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee 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% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 min 25% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
| 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 | #100 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| 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.