Compare towns
Columbia vs Hooksett vs Colebrook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Columbia has the most homeowners (91.1%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Colebrook has the most renters (30.6% rent).
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 | Columbia | Hooksett | Colebrook |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 683Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,988 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -12.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 51.8±10.1 20% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
53.7±4.9Highest 24% above NH |
| Colebrook and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.2%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 29.9%±8.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Columbia and Colebrook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 14.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
16.3% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±3.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Columbia are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $57,917±$13k 42% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$51,159±$6kLowest 48% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $196,400±$29k 51% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$192,200±$59kLowest 52% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $792±$333 47% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$750±$238Lowest 50% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,009Lowest 70% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,350 35% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 9.1%±95.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
50.3%±19.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Colebrook and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
69.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 24% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
21 min 21% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.2%±6.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
5.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and Columbia 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 | Colebrook School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Colebrook Academy and Elementary School (H) |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.4 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.