Compare towns
Alna vs Hooksett vs Edgecomb vs Waldo
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alna has the most kids (32.9% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Edgecomb has the most homeowners (90.7%).
Waldo has the most affordable homes ($208k 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 | Alna | Hooksett | Edgecomb | Waldo |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 818Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,251 |
926 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
41±8.8 5% above U.S. |
37.5±9.6Lowest 4% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 32.9%±5.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.9%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.2%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
24.5%±7.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.2%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Edgecomb and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
8%±6.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.8%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16k 15% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$108,750±$18k 35% above U.S. |
$71,458±$21kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Edgecomb are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $367,400±$55k 10% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$348,400±$36k 5% above U.S. |
$208,000±$41kLowest 37% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,088±$176Lowest 23% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
— | $1,150±$691 19% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Waldo are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,667 18% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,577 15% above U.S. |
$1,623Lowest 48% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
21.1%±43.8Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
74.1%±36.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Waldo and Alna are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 min 16% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±4.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Alna and Waldo 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 | — | — |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Edgecomb Public Schools | Waldo-Region 7 |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.