Compare towns
Hooksett vs Amherst vs Exeter vs Pelham
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 the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Pelham has the most expensive homes ($553k 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 | Amherst | Exeter | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
11,861Lowest |
16,151Highest |
14,449 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Amherst and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3 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 | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$135,956±$19k 37% above NH |
| Amherst and Pelham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$537,600±$30k 34% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,425±$88Lowest 4% 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 | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
67.3%±12.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Pelham and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
86.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
30 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | Exeter High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4Lowest |
12.1Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.