Compare towns
Center Harbor vs Hooksett vs New Hampton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Center Harbor has the oldest population (median age 60.4).
Hooksett has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
New Hampton has the most affordable homes ($384k 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 | Center Harbor | Hooksett | New Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 955Lowest |
15,057Highest |
2,509 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 60.4±4.8Highest 39% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
51.7±2.7 19% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.9%±5.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.8%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 39.5%±13.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±5 NH: 20.1% |
| Center Harbor and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 47.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 0.9%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,313±$16k 5% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$95,250±$35kLowest 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Center Harbor are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $463,800±$74kHighest 15% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$383,700±$37kLowest 5% below NH |
| Center Harbor and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$749±$433Lowest 50% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,667Lowest 30% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,973 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 14.3%±59.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.3%±21.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and New Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 2%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
13.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minLowest 8% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.9%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and New Hampton 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 | — | Hooksett School District | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.