Compare towns
Exeter vs Hooksett vs Williston vs Newmarket
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 oldest population (median age 45.8).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% rent).
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 | Williston | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
15,057 |
10,144 |
9,463Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5 17% above U.S. |
41.2±1.9Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Williston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Williston 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
49.7% 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% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1.9Lowest 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. |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$100,845±$13kLowest 25% above U.S. |
| 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 37% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$455,000±$22k 37% above U.S. |
| Williston 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 31% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$1,671±$69 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Williston 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. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$8,734 180% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.3%±8.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Williston 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
52.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.3%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston 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 | #11 of 70 in VT | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | — | 9.9Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 59 photos → | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.