Compare towns
Hampstead vs Rochester 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%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k 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 | Rochester | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102Lowest |
33,144Highest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
| Hampstead and Rochester 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% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Rochester 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% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Rochester 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% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% 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 |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester 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% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2 |
— |
| 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.