Compare towns
Bennington vs Deering vs Hampstead vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bennington has the most kids (26% under 18).
Deering has the oldest population (median age 48.8).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Bennington | Deering | Hampstead | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 1,588Lowest |
1,938 |
9,102 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.7% NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Deering and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±1.7Lowest NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Deering and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 33.6% NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.8%±1.3 NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
$101,250±$16k about the NH average |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
$309,900±$27k 23% below NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,306±$116 12% below NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
$6,223 7% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 37.2%±20.6 NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 37 min 38% above NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
30 min 13% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Bennington 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 | — | — | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Contoocook Valley School District | — | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.