Compare towns
Hooksett vs Newfields vs Exeter vs Plaistow
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Plaistow has the most kids (19.8% 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 | Newfields | Exeter | Plaistow |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
2,023Lowest |
16,151Highest |
7,861 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
40.1±3.7Lowest 7% below NH |
| Exeter and Newfields 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% |
18.9%±1.6 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Plaistow and Newfields 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% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±3.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
34.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
3.3%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Newfields 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 |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$108,317±$13kLowest 9% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$404,500±$32kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,856±$223 24% above NH |
$1,664±$187 12% above NH |
| Newfields and Exeter 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,814 32% above NH |
$7,194 8% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
55.3%±16.9 NH: 48.2% |
| 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% NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.5% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 min 4% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.6%±4 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields 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 | #66 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Newfields School District | 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 Our Story | 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.