Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Nelson
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 expensive homes ($521k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
15,057Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
42.3±11.7 about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Nelson 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% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Nelson 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$99,792±$23kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Nelson 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 | — |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.