Compare towns
Chester vs Hooksett 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
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Chester | Hooksett | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,300Lowest |
5,876 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1987Lowest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 35 minHighest 31% above NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Hooksett 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Chester School District | — | Hooksett 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.