Compare towns
Hooksett vs Atkinson vs Methuen vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Atkinson has the most people working from home (21.1%).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Atkinson | Methuen | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
7,267Lowest |
53,475 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
57.1±2.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.8%±4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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 46% above U.S. |
$146,380±$32kHighest 81% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Atkinson 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±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$555,200±$65kHighest 67% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Atkinson and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,140±$32Lowest 19% below U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,918Highest 122% above U.S. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
66.5%±39.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Atkinson and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
1.8%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 7% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21.1%±6.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Atkinson and Manchester 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 | #32 of 120 in NH | #236 of 282 in MA | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Methuen | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Methuen High | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 13.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.