Compare towns
Hampstead vs Keene vs Sullivan vs Hooksett
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%).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 min average).
Sullivan has the most homeowners (93.6%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Keene | Sullivan | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
22,939Highest |
687Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5% NH: +4.6% |
-2.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
46.6±6.5Highest 8% above NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Sullivan and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±5 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.5%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Sullivan 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% |
44.1% NH: 40.6% |
28.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
3.9%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$106,667±$20k 8% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above 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 |
$252,500±$12k 37% below NH |
$236,500±$29kLowest 41% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,342±$68 10% below NH |
$1,225±$275Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$6,812 about the NH average |
$5,099Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±84.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
32 minHighest 20% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
4.2%±2.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Keene 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Keene School District | — | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.