Compare towns
Hooksett vs Ayer vs Hooksett vs Suncook
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Suncook has the most renters (40.5% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Ayer | Hooksett | Suncook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876 |
8,645 |
15,057Highest |
5,432Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8 about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
37.9±8.1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
19.8%±4.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Suncook are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.5%±3.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.5%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15k 26% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$79,836±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$361,100±$22k 9% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,091±$317Lowest 23% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$5,057 62% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,975Highest 124% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.2%±21.7Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Suncook and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
12.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
59.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1951Lowest 29 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
25 minLowest 7% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.5%±6.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Suncook 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #113 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | — | Ayer Shirley School District | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | — | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | None in town | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.