Compare towns

Burlington vs Hooksett vs Stoneham

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Burlington has the highest household income ($146k).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Stoneham has the most kids (20.8% under 18).

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.

MeasureBurlingtonHooksettStoneham
People
Population
26,274Highest
15,057Lowest
23,355
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+7.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+8.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
45.9±2.2Highest
18% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
42.2±2.2
8% above U.S.
Burlington and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.1%±2.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
20.8%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 22%
Stoneham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
21.9%±2.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.4%±2.2
U.S.: 17.2%
Burlington and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
58.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
55.9%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.6%±1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.7%±1.4
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$146,436±$14kHighest
81% above U.S.
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$113,964±$10kLowest
41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$740,600±$35kHighest
123% above U.S.
$407,000±$26kLowest
22% above U.S.
$671,900±$26k
102% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$2,718±$368Highest
92% above U.S.
$1,661±$206Lowest
18% above U.S.
$2,035±$142
44% above U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,165Lowest
98% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$6,523
109% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
50.4%±10.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
41.9%±8.2
U.S.: 51.1%
Burlington and Stoneham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.9%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
74.2%
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
71%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1972
8 yrs older than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1964Lowest
16 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
28 min
4% above U.S.
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
22.5%±3.2
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
24.6%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Stoneham and Burlington 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 #83 of 282 in MA #30 of 120 in NH #117 of 282 in MA
School district Burlington Hooksett School District Stoneham
High school in town Burlington High None in town Stoneham High
Students per teacherat that high school
11.3Highest
—
10.7Lowest
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.