Compare towns
Hooksett vs Ayer vs Goffstown
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 the highest household income ($118k).
Ayer has the most people working from home (21.6%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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 | Ayer | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
8,645Lowest |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+14.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.2±2.8Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±3.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
20.3%±3.9Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ayer and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
14.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$101,875±$15kLowest 26% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown 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. |
$463,800±$29kHighest 39% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,415±$180 about the U.S. average |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Ayer 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. |
$5,057Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$6,941Highest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
45.1%±14.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Ayer are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
10.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
69.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.6%±5.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ayer and Goffstown 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 | #113 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Ayer Shirley School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Ayer Shirley Regional High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.5Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 12 photos → | 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.