Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hanover vs Hooksett vs Wilton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hooksett has the most kids (17.4% under 18).
Wilton has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Hooksett | Hanover | Hooksett | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876 |
11,685 |
15,057Highest |
3,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 about the NH average |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
| Wilton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
22%±6.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Wilton 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% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
36.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$114,349±$21k 15% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 21% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,382±$70Lowest 7% 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 | $4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$7,612 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
73.7% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1976 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 9% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Wilton 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 | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hooksett School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7Highest |
— | 9.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.