Compare towns
Allenstown vs Hooksett vs Lancaster
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Allenstown has the youngest population (median age 39.4).
Hooksett has the most expensive homes ($407k median).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k 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 | Allenstown | Hooksett | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,743 |
15,057Highest |
3,216Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
| Lancaster and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.9%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.4%±3.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$21k 27% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,600±$69k 39% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$397 14% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
| Hooksett and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,226 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Allenstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 10% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and Lancaster 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #107 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Allenstown School District | Hooksett School District | White Mountains Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 8 photos → | None yet | 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.