Compare towns
Hooksett vs Exeter vs Newington
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Newington has the most expensive homes ($862k 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 | Hooksett | Exeter | Newington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876 |
16,151Highest |
939Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
+7.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Lowest about the NH average |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
48.7±10.1Highest 12% above NH |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.7%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and Newington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
28%±11Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
62.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.8Lowest 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 | $101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$145,833±$46kHighest 47% above NH |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$861,600±$46kHighest 114% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Lowest 21% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$2,292±$795Highest 54% above NH |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,081 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
62.9%±44Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newington and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minHighest 9% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
23 minLowest 13% below NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
8%±2.4Lowest 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Newington School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.