Compare towns
Hampstead vs Amherst vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Hampstead | Amherst | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
11,861 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Amherst and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 29% above NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Amherst and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Amherst are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 30% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #49 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Souhegan Coop High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
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| 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.