Compare towns
South Hooksett 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
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | South Hooksett | Exeter | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902Lowest |
16,151Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.2%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
45.8±2.3Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17%±2.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
59.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.1%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
$110,346±$13kLowest 11% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| South Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$456,600±$21kHighest 13% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Exeter and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
$1,856±$223Highest 24% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% 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 | $6,801 about the NH average |
$8,814Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
59%±11.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 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 | 4% NH: 7.2% |
4.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
69.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 7% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.9%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Exeter and Hooksett 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 | — | #22 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.