Compare towns
Hooksett vs Brentwood vs Exeter
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).
Brentwood has the highest household income ($166k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Brentwood | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
4,641Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+0.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.8±3.1 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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% |
21.4%±4.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Brentwood and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Brentwood 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% |
49% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 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 |
$165,509±$23kHighest 67% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$528,100±$75kHighest 31% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$2,217±$654Highest 49% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
| Brentwood and Exeter 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 |
$9,713Highest 46% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
63.9%±37.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Brentwood 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
96%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1995Highest 16 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.1%±8.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Brentwood 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #16 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Brentwood School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 59 photos → |
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.