Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Strafford
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 people working from home (21%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Strafford has the shortest commute (23 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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
15,057Highest |
1,372Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-0.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.4±4.7Highest 32% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
23%±5.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Strafford and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.1%±3.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
53.3%Highest 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% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$110,833±$19kLowest 37% 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. |
$431,300±$40k 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,125±$789Lowest 20% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$7,149 129% 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% |
44.6%±48Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980Lowest same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.1%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampstead and Strafford 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 | Strafford School District |
| 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.