Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Manchester vs Gilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Gilford has the most homeowners (93.1%).
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 | Manchester | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
15,057 |
115,643Highest |
7,830Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Gilford 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% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Hooksett and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Hooksett and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,922 11% below NH |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 min 10% below NH |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Gilford 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3Highest |
11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.