Compare towns
Hooksett vs Exeter vs Boxford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Boxford has the most expensive homes ($907k 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 | Boxford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
16,151Highest |
8,208Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
49.1±3.6Highest 26% above U.S. |
| Boxford 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 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Boxford 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
21.2%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Boxford 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
70.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 46% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$200,871±$21kHighest 149% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$907,000±$46kHighest 173% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$776±$13Lowest 45% below U.S. |
| 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 110% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
67.2%±60.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Boxford and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
94.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Boxford 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 | #22 of 120 in NH | #34 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Boxford · Masconomet |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Masconomet Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Lowest |
12.2Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.