Compare towns
Amherst vs Hooksett vs Sutton
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 (+10.6%).
Sutton has the most affordable homes ($363k 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 | Amherst | Hooksett | Sutton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,861 |
15,057Highest |
2,239Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.9±3.5 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.1±4.1Highest 11% above NH |
| Sutton and Amherst 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.5%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Sutton 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% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Sutton 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% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.9%±3.6 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sutton 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 |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$130,313±$31k 32% above NH |
| Amherst and Sutton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$362,600±$16kLowest 10% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,462±$256Lowest about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,656±$614 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Sutton 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,652 15% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.4%±9 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
27.6%±47.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Amherst 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
29 min 10% above NH |
| Work from home | 32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.8%±5.6 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 | Hooksett School District | Kearsarge Regional School District |
| High school in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town | Kearsarge Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.4 |
— | 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.