Compare towns
Hampstead vs Wakefield vs Hooksett vs Atkinson
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 kids (21.3% under 18).
Wakefield has the most expensive homes ($724k median).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
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 | Wakefield | Hooksett | Atkinson |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,102 |
27,793Highest |
15,057 |
7,267Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
42.4±1.7 9% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 21.3%±3.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
20%±2.2 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 21.8%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±1.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Atkinson and Hampstead 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% |
59.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.4%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18kLowest 39% above U.S. |
$134,306±$14k 66% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $521,100±$45k 57% above U.S. |
$723,500±$24kHighest 117% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65k 67% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$1,958±$102Highest 39% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
| Wakefield and Hooksett 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. |
$7,779 149% above U.S. |
$6,554Lowest 110% above U.S. |
$6,918 122% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
43.7%±7.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson 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% |
4.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
70.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1956Lowest 24 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 7% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wakefield and Atkinson 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 | #179 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Northeast Metropolitan Regional Vocational Technical · Wakefield | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Northeast Metro Regional Vocational | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.