Compare towns
Hampstead vs Mapleton vs Strafford vs Hooksett
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
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 | Mapleton | Strafford | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
1,884Lowest |
4,306 |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Hampstead 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% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Strafford 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Hooksett 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29k 29% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Strafford School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.