Compare towns
Gray vs Hampstead vs Hooksett vs New Gloucester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Gray has the oldest housing (typical home built 1983).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
New Gloucester has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Gray | Hampstead | Hooksett | New Gloucester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 8,429 |
9,102 |
15,057Highest |
5,766Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 43.4±4.5 12% above U.S. |
45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.1±5.5Lowest 3% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 19%±4 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±5.8Highest U.S.: 22% |
| New Gloucester and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 19.3%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.4%±4.2Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.3%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $95,236±$8kLowest 18% above U.S. |
$112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$108,797±$12k 35% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,700±$20k 9% above U.S. |
$521,100±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$357,100±$29kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,371±$89 about the U.S. average |
$1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,150±$249Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Gray are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,683 18% above U.S. |
$8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$3,417Lowest 10% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.4%±24Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
24.7%±12Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gray and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1991Highest 11 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 8% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 12.3%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±6.5 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and New Gloucester 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 | #10 of 133 in ME | #49 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #65 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 15/MSAD 15 · Fiddlehead School of Arts and Sciences | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | RSU 15/MSAD 15 |
| High school in town | Gray-New Gloucester High School | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5 |
— | — | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.