Compare towns
Exeter vs Stoddard vs Hooksett
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%).
Stoddard has the most affordable homes ($330k median).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Stoddard | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,151Highest |
1,072Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+11.5% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
53±4Highest 22% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±3.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Stoddard 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 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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 |
$94,904±$11kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% 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±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$330,300±$20kLowest 18% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$895±$751Lowest 40% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above 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 |
$4,316Lowest 35% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
52.6%±100 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Stoddard 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% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Hooksett 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 |
| School district | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Stoddard School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.