Compare towns
Durham vs Hooksett vs South Hooksett vs Durham
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 most people working from home (19.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
South Hooksett has the highest household income ($130k).
Durham has the most renters (46.4% rent).
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 | Hooksett | South Hooksett | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,080Highest |
15,057 |
5,902Lowest |
10,681 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+7.8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 20.8±0.3 52% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 10.3%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 11.5%±1.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 55.1%±3.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
$112,070±$25kLowest 13% above NH |
| South Hooksett 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±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
$498,000±$45k 24% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,302±$211Lowest 13% below NH |
| Hooksett and South Hooksett 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 |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,801 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
12.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 19 min 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | — | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | — | — |
| High school in town | Oyster River High School | None in town | — | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 51 photos → | 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.