Compare towns
Upton vs Hooksett vs Exeter vs Hopkinton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Upton has the oldest population (median age 46.4).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Exeter has the most renters (30.9% rent).
Hopkinton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+25.7%).
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 | Upton | Hooksett | Exeter | Hopkinton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,189Lowest |
15,057 |
16,151 |
19,358Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+25.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 46.4±4.8Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.8±2.3 18% above U.S. |
40.8±1.6Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Upton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
29.5%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Hopkinton and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±4.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Exeter and Upton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 53.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
77.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.4%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| 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 | $155,508±$33k 93% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$110,346±$13kLowest 37% above U.S. |
$222,801±$22kHighest 176% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $576,700±$41k 73% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$456,600±$21k 37% above U.S. |
$802,700±$39kHighest 141% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $948±$599Lowest 33% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,856±$223 31% above U.S. |
$2,641±$361Highest 87% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,376 169% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$8,814 183% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 52.8%±31 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.4%±14.9Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hopkinton and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
2.5%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
86.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979Lowest 1 yr older than U.S. |
1990Highest 10 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 min 34% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 6% below U.S. |
36 minHighest 37% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 22.8%±5.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #46 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #22 of 120 in NH | #5 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Blackstone Valley Regional Vocational Technical · Mendon-Upton | Hooksett School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hopkinton |
| High school in town | Blackstone Valley | None in town | Exeter High School | Hopkinton High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.2Lowest |
— | 12.1 |
14.4Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.