Compare towns
Hooksett vs Needham vs Stoneham vs Wilton
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 highest household income ($214k).
Stoneham has the most renters (29% rent).
Wilton has the oldest population (median age 46.8).
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 | Stoneham | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,876 |
32,459Highest |
23,355 |
3,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 42.6±2 10% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
42.2±2.2Lowest 8% above U.S. |
46.8±5.2Highest 20% above U.S. |
| Wilton and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 14.7%±3.6 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.8%±2.5 U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.4%±2.2 U.S.: 17.2% |
22%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
55.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
36.9%Lowest 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% |
4.7%±1.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest 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. |
$113,964±$10k 41% above U.S. |
$114,349±$21k 42% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 5% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$671,900±$26k 102% above U.S. |
$381,500±$23k 15% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283 28% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$2,035±$142 44% above U.S. |
$1,382±$70Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,960Lowest 59% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,523 109% above U.S. |
$7,612 144% 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% |
41.9%±8.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.1%±39.9 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Wilton 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% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
71%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
77% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1964Lowest 16 yrs older than U.S. |
1971 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
28 minLowest 5% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
24.6%±3.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
16.7%±5.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #19 of 282 in MA | #117 of 282 in MA | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Needham | Stoneham | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Stoneham High | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
10.7 |
9.1Lowest |
| 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.