Compare towns
Stowe vs Exeter vs Hooksett vs Worcester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stowe has grown the fastest since 2010 (+21.1%).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k 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 | Stowe | Exeter | Hooksett | Worcester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,285 |
16,151Highest |
15,057 |
831Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +21.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.3±7.6 19% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
| Worcester and Stowe are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.5%±4.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Stowe and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 25.8%±6.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Stowe and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 66.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.6%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,618±$33k 16% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below 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 | $647,800±$157kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,458±$242 3% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,161 130% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.5%±15.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 9.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
29 minHighest 9% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.4%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Stowe and Worcester 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 | Stowe Town School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | Stowe High School | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.3Lowest |
12.1Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 59 photos → | None yet | 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.