Compare towns
Hampstead vs Exeter vs Hooksett vs Gilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most expensive homes ($521k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Gilford has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Hampstead | Exeter | Hooksett | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
16,151Highest |
15,057 |
7,830Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest 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 | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Hooksett and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% 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 | $8,634 30% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.