Compare towns
Hooksett vs Boscawen vs Manchester
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Boscawen has the most affordable homes ($287k median).
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 | Boscawen | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
4,044Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
46±4.2Highest 6% above NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Boscawen and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.1%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Boscawen and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
25.2%±5.3Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
20.5%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.9Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$77,328±$27kLowest 22% below NH |
$81,007±$2k 18% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$286,500±$23kLowest 29% below NH |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,265±$307Lowest 15% below NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| 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 about the NH average |
$6,549 about the NH average |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
41.2%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest 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% |
17%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
75.3% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest 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 |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
9.9%±6.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Manchester 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 | #51 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Merrimack Valley School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.