Compare towns
Hooksett vs Chester vs Stratham
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 oldest population (median age 47.2).
Stratham has the most people working from home (25.3%).
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 | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
5,300Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Chester and Stratham 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% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Stratham and Chester 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% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1 NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Stratham and Chester 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±$42k 37% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
— | $2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,464 27% above NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1986Lowest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham 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 | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Chester School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham 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.