Compare towns
Allenstown vs Northwood vs Hooksett vs Charlestown
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).
Northwood has the most people working from home (18.7%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Charlestown has the most kids (22.4% under 18).
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 | Northwood | Hooksett | Charlestown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 4,743 |
4,688Lowest |
15,057Highest |
4,889 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.9% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 39.4±4.7Lowest 9% below NH |
42.4±7.8Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.6±8.5 4% below NH |
| Northwood and Charlestown 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% |
18%±4.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Charlestown 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% |
21.5%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
22.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Charlestown and Northwood are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 19.7% NH: 40.6% |
38.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
12.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
3.8%±2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±3.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $72,500±$21k 27% below NH |
$129,375±$23kHighest 31% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$47,338±$23kLowest 52% below NH |
| Northwood and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $243,600±$69k 39% below NH |
$363,000±$13k 10% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$228,000±$62kLowest 43% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,281±$397 14% below NH |
$1,201±$372 19% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,099±$85Lowest 26% 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 |
$5,806 13% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,143 23% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.8%±29.8 NH: 48.2% |
23.7%±29.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
65%±24.9Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Charlestown and Allenstown 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
14.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.9% NH: 72.8% |
89%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
78.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1970Lowest 9 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 24 minLowest 10% below NH |
37 minHighest 37% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.7%±6.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Northwood and Hooksett 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 | — | #24 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #113 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Allenstown School District | Northwood School District · Coe-Brown Northwood Academy School District | Hooksett School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Coe-Brown Northwood Academy | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.