Compare towns
Putney vs Hooksett vs Exeter vs Dummerston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Putney has the shortest commute (18 min average).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Exeter has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.2%).
Dummerston has the most people working from home (25.9%).
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 | Putney | Hooksett | Exeter | Dummerston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 2,622 |
15,057 |
16,151Highest |
2,090Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 37.2±5.2Lowest 4% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
45.6±11.7 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 15.4%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Dummerston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 18.1%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.3%±3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Dummerston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
58.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 20.4%±3.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.3%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $79,706±$18kLowest about the U.S. average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$101,696±$21k 26% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $300,000±$44kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$335,300±$22k about the U.S. average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $508±$482Lowest 64% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,392±$126 about the U.S. average |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,313 70% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$4,536Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 54.2%±19.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±32.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Putney are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 16%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 18 minLowest 32% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
21 min 21% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.9%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
25.9%±10.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Dummerston 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 | #32 of 70 in VT | #30 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Windham Southeast Unified Union School District #96 |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | 6 photos → | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet |
U.S. 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.