Compare towns
Exeter vs Mason vs Hollis
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%).
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Hollis has the highest household income ($169k).
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 | Mason | Hollis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,451Lowest |
8,603 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
43.7±2.3Lowest about the NH average |
49.4±5Highest 14% above NH |
| Hollis 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% |
28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
21%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Mason and Hollis 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% |
15.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.3%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hollis 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% |
39.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
57.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8Highest NH: 6% |
1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
3.6%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Exeter and Hollis 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 |
$111,090±$3k 12% above NH |
$168,883±$22kHighest 71% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$384,000±$21kLowest 5% below NH |
$675,900±$48kHighest 68% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,598±$302Lowest 7% above NH |
| Mason 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 |
$7,049Lowest 6% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.3%±19.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
41 minHighest 53% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
20.7%±4.5 NH: 16.8% |
29%±6.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hollis and Mason 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 | — | #8 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Mason School District | Hollis School District · Hollis-Brookline Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Hollis-Brookline High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 59 photos → | 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.