Compare towns
Hooksett vs Manchester vs Townsend
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%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Townsend has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Manchester | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
115,643Highest |
9,100 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Manchester 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% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Townsend are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Manchester 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. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Hooksett 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. |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313Lowest 4% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Manchester 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. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
$6,031Highest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Manchester 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | — | Manchester Memorial High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
13.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.