Compare towns
Hooksett vs Chester vs Henniker
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Henniker has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.9%).
Henniker is a college town. 27% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Chester | Henniker |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,300Lowest |
6,197 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+9.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+27.9%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
31.1±6.1Lowest 28% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Chester 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 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.5%±6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Chester 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 NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
27%±6.5Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$95,206±$21kLowest 4% below NH |
| Chester 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 about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$356,700±$49kLowest 11% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,081±$164Lowest 27% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,877Highest 33% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
43.5%±22.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Henniker 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% NH: 7.2% |
11.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
20 minLowest 24% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.5%±5.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Henniker 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 | #90 of 120 in NH | #56 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Chester School District | Henniker School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.