Compare towns
Hampden vs Hooksett vs South Berwick
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampden has the most people working from home (21.3%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k 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.
| Measure | Hampden | Hooksett | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,896Highest |
5,876Lowest |
7,670 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
42.6±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,959±$13kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
| Hampden and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$348,100±$32k 5% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,726±$83 22% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$4,960Highest 59% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
29 minHighest 11% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and South Berwick 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 | #6 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 22 | — | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | Hampden Academy | — | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.8Highest |
— | 13.0Lowest |
| 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.