Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Exeter vs Dunbarton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Dunbarton has the most homeowners (95.1%).
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 | Goffstown | Hooksett | Exeter | Dunbarton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
15,057 |
16,151 |
3,097Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48±3.7Highest 11% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±3.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.4%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Dunbarton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.8%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,348±$21kHighest 26% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$484,100±$33kHighest 20% above NH |
| Dunbarton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,166±$70Lowest 22% below NH |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$8,233 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±60.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1990Highest 11 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
34 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12.6%±5.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #33 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Dunbarton School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → | 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.