Compare towns
Hanover vs Hooksett vs Bristol
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Bristol has the most kids (24.3% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hanover | Hooksett | Bristol |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 11,685Highest |
5,876 |
3,273Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
42.7±5.7Highest about the NH average |
| Bristol and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
24.3%±6.4Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bristol and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.7%±2.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
23.2%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bristol and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.4% NH: 40.6% |
35.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
$78,438±$10kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$348,100±$32k 14% below NH |
$258,300±$63kLowest 36% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$1,310±$97Lowest 12% below NH |
| Hanover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,960 26% below NH |
$4,162Lowest 38% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±14.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Bristol are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.6% NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 73.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
69.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1977 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 20 minLowest 27% below NH |
29 minHighest 9% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #79 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | — | Newfound Area School District |
| High school in town | Hanover High School | — | Newfound Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
| 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.