Compare towns
Alna vs Hooksett vs Mercer
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%).
Mercer has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Mercer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 818 |
15,057Highest |
718Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.7±10.5Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
43.4±4.5Highest 12% above U.S. |
| Mercer and Hooksett 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.1%±6.4 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±5.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
25.9%±5.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Mercer 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% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $93,125±$16k 15% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$71,107±$2kLowest 12% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Alna 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. |
$238,500±$32kLowest 28% 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. |
$1,422±$249 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Mercer 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. |
$1,970Lowest 37% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 42.9%±70.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
18.5%±74Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alna and Hooksett 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% |
13.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
92.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 32% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 min 15% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±8.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Mercer and Alna 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 | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.