Compare towns
Hampstead vs Dedham vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Dedham has the most expensive homes ($662k median).
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 | Dedham | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
25,237Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.6±1.6 15% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.6%±1.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Dedham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.9%±2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Dedham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
55%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.6%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$128,955±$10kHighest 60% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$661,800±$16kHighest 99% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$2,042±$182Highest 45% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
| Dedham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$7,918 154% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.4%±10Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Dedham and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.6%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
29 min 11% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
20%±2.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Dedham 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #119 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Dedham | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Dedham High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.4 |
— |
| 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.