Compare towns
Hooksett vs Durham vs Hampstead
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 20.8).
Hampstead has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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 | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
15,080Highest |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Hooksett 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
44.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$124,056±$21kHighest 25% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
| Durham 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 |
$504,300±$41k 25% above NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Hampstead and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% 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 | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$8,634 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Hampstead 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Durham 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 | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Oyster River High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.