Compare towns
Milford vs Somersworth vs Exeter vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
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 | Milford | Somersworth | Exeter | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
12,111Lowest |
16,151 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$110,346±$13k 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Milford 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 | #55 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Somersworth School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Somersworth High School | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4 |
12.1Highest |
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| 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.