Compare towns
Hooksett vs Chester vs Newmarket
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 the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Newmarket has the most renters (47.1% 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 | Chester | Newmarket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,300Lowest |
9,463 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.2±1.9Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
15.6%±2.7Lowest 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% |
16.1%±2.8Lowest 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% |
49.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.6%±1.9 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Newmarket 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 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$100,845±$13kLowest about the NH average |
| 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±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$455,000±$22k 13% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
— | $1,671±$69Highest 12% above NH |
| Newmarket and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$8,734Highest 31% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±8.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Newmarket 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% |
4.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
52.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
28 min 6% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
17.3%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newmarket and Chester 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 | #39 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Chester School District | Newmarket School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Newmarket Jr.-Sr. High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.9 |
| 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.