Compare towns
Hampstead vs Townsend vs Hooksett vs Gilford
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%).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Townsend | Hooksett | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
9,100 |
15,057Highest |
7,830Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3Lowest 5% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
48.2±3.9Highest 24% above U.S. |
| 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%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.6%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Townsend 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% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.8%±3.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$116,635±$11k 44% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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. |
$433,200±$22k 30% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$456,500±$56k 37% above U.S. |
| 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 8% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,150±$747Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,868Lowest 56% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
62.2%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Gilford and Townsend 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% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
22 minLowest 17% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.9%±4.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | North Middlesex | Hooksett School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
— | 11.5Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.