Compare towns

Hooksett vs Chester vs Worcester

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%).
Chester has the most affordable homes ($233k median).
Worcester has the most people working from home (23.6%).

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.

MeasureHooksettChesterWorcester
People
Population
15,057Highest
2,992
831Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-4.7%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
-3.4%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
49.7±4.7Highest
28% above U.S.
47±2.7
21% above U.S.
Chester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±4.7
U.S.: 22%
12.8%±3.9Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hooksett 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
U.S.: 17.2%
29.8%±7.9Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19.5%±2.5
U.S.: 17.2%
Chester and Worcester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
33.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
53%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.1%±4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.9%±4.7
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Worcester 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.
$62,125±$8kLowest
23% below U.S.
$73,833±$18k
9% below U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$232,900±$44kLowest
30% below U.S.
$271,100±$27k
19% below U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$960±$44Lowest
32% below U.S.
$1,023±$136
28% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554Highest
110% above U.S.
$4,262Lowest
37% above U.S.
$4,421
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
11.5%±12.3Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
25.5%±37
U.S.: 51.1%
Hooksett and Worcester 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%
7%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
86.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
85.9%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1972Lowest
8 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
28 min
5% above U.S.
29 minHighest
9% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14%±6.9
U.S.: 15.1%
23.6%±4.8Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Worcester 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 #49 of 70 in VT —
School district Hooksett School District Green Mountain Unified School District #77 Washington Central Unified Union School District #92
High school in town None in town Green Mountain Union High School None in town
Students per teacherat that high school —
8.7
—
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

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.