Compare towns
Exeter vs Hooksett vs Plaistow vs Wolfeboro
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).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the oldest population (median age 57).
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 | Plaistow | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
15,057 |
7,861 |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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 |
$108,317±$13k 9% above NH |
$94,375±$22kLowest 5% below 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 |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| 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 32% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,194 8% above NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
8.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #66 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Timberlane Regional High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.4 |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 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.