Compare towns
Hooksett vs Derry vs Exeter vs South Hooksett
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).
Derry has the most kids (20.7% under 18).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Derry | Exeter | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
34,116Highest |
16,151 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+3.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.3±1.6 7% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.7%±2.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest 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% |
15.2%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$108,944±$7kLowest 10% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Hooksett 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 |
$432,000±$17k 7% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Exeter and South Hooksett 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 |
$1,547±$138 4% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| 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 |
$8,103 22% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
51.6%±9 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Derry 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% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
70.2% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
31 minHighest 16% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16%±2.8 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest 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 | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Derry Cooperative School District · Pinkerton Academy School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Pinkerton Academy | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.9Highest |
12.1Lowest |
— |
| 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.