Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hampton vs Reading 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).
Hampton has the most renters (25.5% rent).
Reading has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Hampton | Reading | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
10,101 |
699Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
51.2±1.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6 31% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Reading 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% |
14.6%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18.5%±4.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Reading 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% |
26.9%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Hampton 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% |
44.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.4%±1.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$97,163±$4k 20% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% 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 | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$545,300±$63kHighest 64% above U.S. |
$377,200±$72kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Hampton and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,654±$93 17% above U.S. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampton 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. |
$6,872 120% above U.S. |
$5,754Lowest 84% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.9%±13.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Reading and Hampton 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% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
74.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1969Lowest 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
20.5%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Reading and Hampstead 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | — | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| 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.