Compare towns
Durham vs Atkinson 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Durham | Atkinson | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
7,267Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.7% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Atkinson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Atkinson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 19 minLowest 27% below NH |
28 minHighest 6% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Atkinson and Durham 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.