Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Rochester
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%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
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 | Rochester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
15,057 |
33,144Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Rochester 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% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Rochester 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%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
| 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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett 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 | #98 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Rochester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Spaulding High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.2 |
| 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.