Compare towns
Hooksett vs Needham vs Hull
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 kids (27.5% under 18).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
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 | Hull |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876Lowest |
32,459Highest |
10,138 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Lowest 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hull 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Needham 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. |
$115,485±$14k 43% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$646,000±$38k 94% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Lowest 28% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,081±$187 47% above U.S. |
| Needham and Hull 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. |
$6,089 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Hull 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%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #66 of 282 in MA |
| School district | — | Needham | Hull |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Hull High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
8.8Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.