Compare towns
Hooksett vs Derry vs Exeter vs Goffstown
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 highest household income ($118k).
Derry has the most renters (40.9% rent).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Derry | Exeter | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
21,339Highest |
16,151 |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41±3Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±2.8Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Derry and Hooksett 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% |
14.8%±2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
36.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
7.2%±2.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$91,673±$11kLowest 7% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$391,200±$23k about the NH average |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,549±$137 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% 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 |
$7,278 9% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
54.7%±9.5 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 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 | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
59.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 10% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.2%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Derry 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 | #60 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Exeter High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| 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.