Compare towns
Hampstead vs Lancaster 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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
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 | Lancaster | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
3,216Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Lancaster 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% |
20.9%±6.1 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Lancaster are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
28.4%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Lancaster 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below 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 |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.