Compare towns

Hooksett vs Amherst vs Manchester vs Hooksett

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).

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.

MeasureHooksettAmherstManchesterHooksett
People
Population
15,057
11,861
115,643Highest
5,876Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%
NH: +4.6%
+4.9%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+5.5%
NH: +4.6%
+27.4%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
45.9±3.5Highest
6% above NH
38±1Lowest
12% below NH
42.6±2
about the NH average
Amherst and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
22.4%±3.3Highest
NH: 18.2%
18%±1
NH: 18.2%
14.7%±3.6Lowest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
20.2%±3
NH: 20.1%
15.5%±0.8Lowest
NH: 20.1%
20.7%±3.9Highest
NH: 20.1%
Hooksett and Amherst 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%
65.7%Highest
NH: 40.6%
34%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
41.4%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.7%±1.5Lowest
NH: 6%
6.4%±0.7
NH: 6%
6.2%±3.7
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$153,196±$10kHighest
55% above NH
$81,007±$2kLowest
18% below NH
$101,053±$25k
about the NH average
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26k
about the NH average
$537,600±$30kHighest
34% above NH
$365,600±$7k
9% below NH
$348,100±$32kLowest
14% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
$1,462±$256Lowest
about the NH average
$1,564±$37
5% above NH
$1,811±$283Highest
21% above NH
Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554
about the NH average
$9,773Highest
47% above NH
$5,922
11% below NH
$4,960Lowest
26% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
NH: 48.2%
31.4%±9Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50%±3.6Highest
NH: 48.2%
46%±20.2
NH: 48.2%
Manchester 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%
4.4%
NH: 7.2%
11.2%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
NH: 72.8%
91.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
48.7%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
72.5%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1978
1 yr older than NH
1966Lowest
13 yrs older than NH
1987
8 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the NH average
33 minHighest
22% above NH
24 minLowest
10% below NH
29 min
9% above NH
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
32.4%±5.5Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.1%±1.3
NH: 16.8%
14.4%±4.6
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #20 of 120 in NH #115 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District —
High school in town None in town Souhegan Coop High School Manchester Memorial High School —
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.4Lowest
14.3Highest
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story None yet None yet 6 photos → 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.