Compare towns
Hampstead vs New Ipswich vs Hooksett vs Gilford
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%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | New Ipswich | Hooksett | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
5,310Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
36.9±2.4Lowest 15% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford 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 NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| New Ipswich and Hampstead 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% |
12.3%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% NH: 40.6% |
32.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$110,507±$9kLowest 12% above NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
| Hooksett and Gilford 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 |
$392,400±$31kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Hampstead and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$882±$469Lowest 41% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,150±$747 23% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$5,647 15% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and New Ipswich 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
12%±4.8Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Gilford 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 | #82 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Mascenic Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Mascenic Regional High School | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.7Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| 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.