Compare towns
Hooksett vs Needham vs Canton vs Hooksett
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%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 41.3).
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 | Needham | Canton | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
32,459Highest |
24,748 |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+13% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
42.6±2.3 10% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Needham 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% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
22.9%±2.3 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
18.8%±2 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Canton 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% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
67.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest 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±$25kLowest 25% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$143,381±$9k 78% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$710,600±$27k 114% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,315±$178 64% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Needham and Canton 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. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,560 110% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±9.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Canton 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% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
5.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
73.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #81 of 282 in MA | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Needham | Blue Hills Regional Vocational Technical · Canton | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Canton High | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
13.1Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.