Compare towns
Hampstead vs Middlesex vs Hooksett vs Sandown
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 expensive homes ($521k median).
Middlesex has the most homeowners (96.7%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Sandown has the highest household income ($135k).
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 | Middlesex | Hooksett | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
1,943Lowest |
15,057Highest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 16% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.8±3.7Lowest 5% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Middlesex 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% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sandown 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Middlesex 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% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Middlesex 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. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$135,040±$25kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| Sandown 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. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$483,400±$44k 45% above U.S. |
| Hampstead and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 8% below U.S. |
$1,333±$359 6% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634 177% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$8,801Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.1%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandown 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986Lowest 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
27 min 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±13.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Sandown 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 | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional 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.