Compare towns
Exeter vs Ogunquit vs Hooksett vs Kingston
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).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
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 | Ogunquit | Hooksett | Kingston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,379Lowest |
15,057 |
6,275 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
55.5±5.7 43% above U.S. |
| Ogunquit and Kingston 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% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.5%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and Exeter 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% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.7%±6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest 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. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$105,330±$12kLowest 30% 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. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$492,900±$58k 48% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
— | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,393±$156Lowest about the U.S. average |
| 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 183% above U.S. |
$4,473Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,906 153% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±46.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Kingston 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
26 min about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #22 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Hooksett School District | Sanborn Regional School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1Lowest |
— | — | 12.9Highest |
| 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.