Compare towns
Hooksett vs Chilmark vs Needham vs Manchester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Chilmark has grown the fastest since 2010 (+40%).
Needham has the most kids (27.5% under 18).
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 | Chilmark | Needham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
1,578Lowest |
32,459 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+40%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
53.6±8.1Highest 38% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
36.2%±12.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
68.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.7%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$168,750±$28k 109% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$1,895,300±$281kHighest 470% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43k 257% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$2,750±$2kHighest 95% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183 70% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Chilmark and Needham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,485Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
30.8%±59.9Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Manchester 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% |
4.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
32 minHighest 19% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
25.7%±11 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Needham and Chilmark 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 | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Up-Island Regional | Needham | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Needham High | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.