Compare towns
Amherst vs Hooksett vs Suncook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
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 | Amherst | Hooksett | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861Highest |
5,876 |
5,432Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
37.9±8.1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Amherst and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.8%±4.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±3.3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5 NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$79,836±$25kLowest 19% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$361,100±$22k 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,091±$317Lowest 27% below NH |
| Hooksett and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,975 5% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
48.2%±21.7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Suncook and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
12.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
59.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1951Lowest 28 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #20 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.