Compare towns
Hooksett vs Strafford 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%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
Wilton has the most people working from home (16.7%).
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 | Strafford | Wilton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,876Highest |
4,306 |
3,960Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±2Lowest about the NH average |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
46.8±5.2Highest 8% above NH |
| Wilton and Strafford 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% |
17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
19.4%±4.1Lowest 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%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
36.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
4.5%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Strafford 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 about the NH average |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$114,349±$21k 15% above NH |
| Strafford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$381,500±$23k 5% below NH |
| Strafford and Wilton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,382±$70Lowest 7% below NH |
| Hooksett and Strafford 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 |
$6,086 9% below NH |
$7,612Highest 14% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
47.1%±39.9 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1971Lowest 8 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 minLowest 9% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
30 min 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 14.4%±4.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
16.7%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wilton and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #54 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Strafford School District | Wilton-Lyndeborough Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Wilton-Lyndeboro Senior High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.