Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hampstead 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).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
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 | Hampstead | Exeter | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
9,102 |
16,151Highest |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Hampstead and Exeter 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 |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,471±$217 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 |
$8,634 30% 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% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hampstead 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.1% 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 |
1988Highest 9 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 |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
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| 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.