Compare towns
Chesterfield vs Hooksett vs Royalston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chesterfield has the oldest housing (typical home built 1976).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Royalston has the most affordable homes ($346k 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 | Chesterfield | Hooksett | Royalston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,055Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,460 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -2.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 44.3±7.6 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.8±14.6Highest 23% above U.S. |
| Royalston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 19.1%±5.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.2%±10Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Royalston and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 24.3%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±5.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Chesterfield and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
28.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±3.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $103,967±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$102,109±$8kLowest 26% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $390,800±$48k 17% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$346,300±$18kLowest 4% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Chesterfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,078±$409Lowest 24% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,650±$412 17% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Royalston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,969 91% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,196Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 10.3%±84.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
85.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Royalston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 min 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.7%±4.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Chesterfield-Goshen | Hooksett School District | Athol-Royalston |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.