Compare towns
Hooksett vs Exeter vs Windsor vs Auburn
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 youngest population (median age 41.3).
Exeter has the oldest population (median age 45.8).
Windsor has the most affordable homes ($208k median).
Auburn has grown the fastest since 2010 (+20%).
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 | Windsor | Auburn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
16,151Highest |
3,554Lowest |
6,119 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+20%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
44.8±6.5 15% above U.S. |
44.3±5.9 14% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Windsor 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% |
19.5%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.3%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Windsor and Auburn are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
29.7%±6.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.4%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Windsor and Exeter 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.3% 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% |
0.7%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.2%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Auburn 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±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$52,484±$11kLowest 35% below U.S. |
$153,253±$6kHighest 90% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$207,500±$31kLowest 38% below U.S. |
$600,300±$29kHighest 80% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$1,026±$89Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,893±$822Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Auburn and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$5,209Lowest 67% above U.S. |
$8,092 159% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
31.5%±17 U.S.: 51.1% |
27.6%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1945Lowest 35 yrs older than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.3%±5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.5%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Auburn 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 | #61 of 70 in VT | #44 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — | Auburn School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 59 photos → | 12 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.