Compare towns
Goffstown vs Hooksett vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Wakefield has the oldest population (median age 49.4).
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 | Goffstown | Hooksett | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 18,513Highest |
15,057 |
5,405Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
49.4±4.1Highest 14% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Goffstown and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $377,400±$20k 6% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Hooksett and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,941Highest 4% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 min 4% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Goffstown 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 | #35 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Goffstown School District | Hooksett School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | Goffstown High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.6 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.