Compare towns
Keene 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
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
South Hooksett has the most homeowners (82.9%).
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 | Keene | Exeter | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
16,151 |
5,902Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3 13% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Exeter and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| South Hooksett and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Exeter and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
| Exeter and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,801Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1985Highest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
26 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | — |
| High school in town | Keene High School | Exeter High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3Highest |
12.1Lowest |
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| 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.