Compare towns
Hampstead vs Walden vs Hooksett
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).
Walden has the most affordable homes ($239k 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 | Walden | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 9,102 |
1,037Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 45.3±6.1 16% above U.S. |
48.8±3.2Highest 25% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Walden 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% |
14.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett 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% |
20.4%±2.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hampstead and Walden 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
26.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $112,348±$18k 39% above U.S. |
$88,000±$15kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| 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 57% above U.S. |
$238,900±$23kLowest 28% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,299±$149 8% below U.S. |
$900±$136Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,634Highest 177% above U.S. |
$3,944Lowest 26% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.1%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
56.3%±86.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Walden 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% |
9.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
93.8%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983Lowest 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 21%±4.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.4%±6.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Walden and Hampstead 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 |
| School district | Hampstead School District | Caledonia Cooperative Unified School District #78 | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.