Compare towns
White River Junction vs Exeter vs Hooksett vs Wilder
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 most renters (56.1% rent).
Exeter has the most people working from home (19.9%).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
Wilder has grown the fastest since 2010 (+81.7%).
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 | White River Junction | Exeter | Hooksett | Wilder |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 3,364 |
16,151Highest |
15,057 |
3,087Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
+12.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+81.7%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
45.8±2.3Highest 18% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.5±8.9 17% above U.S. |
| Exeter and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±5 U.S.: 22% |
17%±2.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.8%±4.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hooksett and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
24.4%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wilder and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 38.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
59.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
60.2%Highest 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%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.1%±3.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Wilder are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| 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. |
$75,143±$9kLowest 7% 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. |
$273,200±$18kLowest 18% 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. |
$1,142±$451Lowest 19% 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. |
$5,505Lowest 76% 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%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
39.9%±17.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Exeter and White River Junction are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
9.3% 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% |
62.9% 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. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
25 min 6% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
17 min 37% below 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% |
12.6%±6.7Lowest 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 | — |
| 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 | 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.