Compare towns
Hooksett vs Mapleton vs Exeter vs Plaistow
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 highest household income ($118k).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Plaistow has the youngest population (median age 40.1).
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 | Mapleton | Exeter | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
1,884Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
40.1±3.7Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.3 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Plaistow 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest 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±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$108,317±$13k 34% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$404,500±$32k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,664±$187 18% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Plaistow 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$7,194 131% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.3%±16.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Plaistow are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1978 2 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.6%±4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and Plaistow 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | Timberlane Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1Highest |
11.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.