Compare towns
Hampstead vs Hooksett vs Ware
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%).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($290k 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 | Ware |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
15,057Highest |
10,048 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
43.1±4.7 11% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Ware 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%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.1%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Ware 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% |
20.6%±3.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Ware 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
24%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$67,475±$15kLowest 16% below 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±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$289,700±$28kLowest 13% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,043±$109Lowest 26% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,237Lowest 36% 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% |
64.3%±16.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware 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% |
11.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1960Lowest 20 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 8% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.3%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #267 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Hooksett School District | Ware |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Ware Junior/Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.