Compare towns
White River Junction vs Exeter vs Hooksett vs Johnson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Johnson has the most affordable homes ($169k 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 | White River Junction | Exeter | Hooksett | Johnson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364Lowest |
16,151Highest |
15,057 |
3,450 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2 13% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
30.9±6.5Lowest 21% below U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Johnson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
10.8%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
32.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.1%±1.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.4%±2.1Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $77,168±$4k 4% below U.S. |
$110,346±$13k 37% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$55,346±$14kLowest 31% 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 | $278,800±$78k 16% below U.S. |
$456,600±$21kHighest 37% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$169,400±$62kLowest 49% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,222±$216 14% below U.S. |
$1,856±$223Highest 31% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$948±$45Lowest 33% 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 | $5,651 81% above U.S. |
$8,814Highest 183% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,310Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±11.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
51.6%±20.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and Johnson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
69.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
58.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 15.7%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
19.9%±3.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.8%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Exeter and White River Junction 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 | #57 of 70 in VT |
| School district | — | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Exeter School District | Hooksett School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A |
| High school in town | — | Exeter High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.1 |
— | — |
| 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.