Compare towns
Hooksett vs Exeter vs Goffstown 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
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Pelham has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Goffstown | Pelham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
16,151 |
18,513Highest |
14,449Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.7 4% below NH |
| Exeter and Pelham 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% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Pelham 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±1.8Lowest 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
40% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.9%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$135,956±$19kHighest 37% above NH |
| Pelham 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±$26k about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$552,600±$27kHighest 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,425±$88 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 |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 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% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
86.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
30 minHighest 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
22.8%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Pelham 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #48 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Goffstown School District | Pelham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Goffstown High School | Pelham High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
12.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.