Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Saco
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 expensive homes ($521k median).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
Saco has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Saco |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
15,057 |
20,819Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
44.9±1.5 15% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Saco 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%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett 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% |
18.5%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Saco 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$92,241±$11kLowest 14% 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±$45kHighest 57% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$413,100±$17k 24% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,249±$385Lowest 12% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,807Lowest 54% 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% |
50.3%±14Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Saco and Hampstead 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.8%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Saco 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 | #38 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Saco Public Schools |
| 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.