Compare towns

Fairfield vs Hooksett vs Wallingford

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Fairfield has the most kids (25.4% under 18).
Hooksett has the most people working from home (13.4%).
Wallingford has the most affordable homes ($262k 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.

MeasureFairfieldHooksettWallingford
People
Population
1,938Lowest
15,057Highest
2,286
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.1%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
42.3±2.7
9% above U.S.
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
45.9±10.8Highest
18% above U.S.
Wallingford and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
25.4%±5Highest
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±5
U.S.: 22%
Fairfield and Wallingford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
14.3%±1.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
23.9%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
30.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
30.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
3.5%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
1.5%±1.1Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$87,019±$22k
8% above U.S.
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$80,230±$15kLowest
about the U.S. average
Hooksett and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$320,600±$22k
4% below U.S.
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$261,900±$44kLowest
21% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,056±$441
25% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$891±$95Lowest
37% below U.S.
Hooksett and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$4,816
54% above U.S.
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,355Lowest
40% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
29.2%±20.4
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
14.3%±13.5Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
Hooksett and Fairfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
5.1%
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
88.5%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.5%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1984
4 yrs newer than U.S.
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1971Lowest
9 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
24 minLowest
8% below U.S.
27 minHighest
about the U.S. average
25 min
6% below U.S.
Work from home
7.8%±3
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
7.1%±3.7Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
Hooksett and Fairfield 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 Maple Run Unified Union School District #57 Hooksett School District Mill River Unified Union School District #52
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.