Compare towns
North Hampton vs Exeter vs Hooksett vs Rye
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
North Hampton has the most homeowners (91.3%).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Rye has the most expensive homes ($1028k median).
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 | North Hampton | Exeter | Hooksett | Rye |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,543Lowest |
16,151Highest |
15,057 |
5,611 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 50.5±3.3 17% above NH |
45.8±2.3 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55.1±3Highest 27% above NH |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19.2%±5.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 26%±4.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
31.7%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Rye and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 54.5% NH: 40.6% |
59.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.5%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.2%±1.3Lowest 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 | $146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$140,655±$39k 42% above NH |
| North Hampton and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $670,400±$61k 67% above NH |
$456,600±$21k 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$1,028,100±$89kHighest 155% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,805±$106 21% above NH |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,781±$156 19% above NH |
| Exeter and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,529 28% above NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,519 13% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.3%±16.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Rye are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
85.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1972Lowest 7 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 8% above NH |
| Work from home | 25.9%±6.9 NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
30.9%±7.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Rye and North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #2 of 120 in NH |
| School district | North Hampton School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Rye School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.