Compare towns
Hooksett vs Biddeford 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
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Biddeford has the youngest population (median age 35).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Biddeford | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
22,498 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
35±2.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
38±1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
15.6%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
11%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Biddeford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$72,333±$4kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$396,600±$25k 19% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Biddeford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,292±$100Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,401Lowest 41% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
37.2%±6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
15.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1952Lowest 28 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.2%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Biddeford 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 | #111 of 133 in ME | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Biddeford Public Schools | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Biddeford High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.