Compare towns
Hooksett vs Alton vs Strafford
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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Alton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,994 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Highest 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+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 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 | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$113,715±$19kLowest 15% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Alton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,635±$246Lowest 10% above NH |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
93.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 24% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Hooksett 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 | #72 of 120 in NH | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| 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.