Compare towns
Hampton vs Hooksett vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hampton has the most people working from home (21.7%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | Hampton | Hooksett | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 16,426Highest |
15,057 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
| Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
| Chester and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— |
| Hooksett and Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,813 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 3% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Chester 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 | #31 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | Winnacunnet High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.1 |
— | — |
| 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.