Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Lancaster
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).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Lancaster has the most people working from home (33.6%).
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 | Hooksett | Lancaster |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
15,057Highest |
8,606Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.9 11% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Lancaster 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.2%±4 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19.9%±4.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Lancaster 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% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$134,833±$27kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$519,100±$60k 56% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,338±$539Highest 65% above U.S. |
| Lancaster 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. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,235 132% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
68.3%±36.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lancaster and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
33.6%±9.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Lancaster 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #145 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Nashoba |
| 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 |
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.