Compare towns
Hooksett vs Exeter vs Hudson
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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hudson has the highest household income ($124k).
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 | Hudson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
16,151 |
25,557Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
45.7±1.9 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Exeter 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% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hudson 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% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
7%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hudson 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 |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$124,213±$6kHighest 25% above NH |
| Hudson 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 |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
| Exeter and Hudson 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 |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,735±$123 16% above NH |
| Exeter and Hudson 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 |
$6,636 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hooksett 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
31 minHighest 18% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hudson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Alvirne High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1Highest |
11.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.