Compare towns
New Boston vs Hooksett vs Exeter
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
New Boston has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
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 | New Boston | Hooksett | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,165Lowest |
15,057 |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17%±4.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.4% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 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 | $154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $481,100±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
| New Boston and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,181 23% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 33% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | New Boston School District | Hooksett 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 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 59 photos → |
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.