Compare towns
Hooksett vs Durham vs Allenstown
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k median).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% 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 | Durham | Allenstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
10,681 |
4,743Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+7.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.9% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
20.1±0.2Lowest 54% below NH |
39.4±4.7 9% below NH |
| Hooksett and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
6.5%±2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Allenstown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
7.5%±1.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Allenstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
19.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
70.2%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.7%±0.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$112,070±$25k 13% above NH |
$72,500±$21kLowest 27% below NH |
| Hooksett and Durham 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 |
$498,000±$45kHighest 24% above NH |
$243,600±$69kLowest 39% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,302±$211 13% below NH |
$1,281±$397Lowest 14% below NH |
| Hooksett and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$4,098Lowest 39% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
55.4%±19.2 NH: 48.2% |
57.8%±29.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Allenstown and Durham 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
11.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
53.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1981 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
24 min 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Hooksett 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 | #9 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | — | Allenstown School District |
| High school 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.