Compare towns
Alstead vs Hooksett vs Mapleton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Alstead has the oldest population (median age 56).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k 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 | Alstead | Hooksett | Mapleton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,551Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,884 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -3.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 56±3.3Highest 44% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.3%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 28.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.4%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $64,526±$11kLowest 20% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25k 14% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Mapleton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $271,600±$37k 18% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,322 71% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 72.1%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Alstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 76%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1973Lowest 7 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 12.1%±5.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Alstead 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 | Fall Mountain Regional School District | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 |
| 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 |
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.