Compare towns
Pembroke 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
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Exeter has the most expensive homes ($457k 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 | Pembroke | Hooksett | Exeter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,438 |
5,876Lowest |
16,151Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.9±3.3Lowest 3% below NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Pembroke and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.2Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest 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 | $89,519±$22kLowest 10% below NH |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$110,346±$13kHighest 11% above NH |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,811±$283 21% 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 | $7,589 14% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Exeter and Pembroke are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.7% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 67.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1969Lowest 10 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
25 min 7% below NH |
| Work from home | 17%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Pembroke 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Pembroke School District | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District |
| High school in town | Pembroke Academy | — | Exeter High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.1Highest |
— | 12.1Lowest |
| 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.