Compare towns
Hooksett vs Goffstown vs Amherst
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%).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
Amherst has the most people working from home (32.4%).
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 | Goffstown | Amherst |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
18,513Highest |
11,861Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+4.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
45.9±3.5Highest 6% above NH |
| Amherst 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% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.4%±3.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Amherst and Hooksett 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% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
20.2%±3Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Amherst and Goffstown 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% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
65.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
3.7%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$113,958±$12kLowest 15% above NH |
$153,196±$10kHighest 55% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
$537,600±$30kHighest 34% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
$1,462±$256 about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Amherst 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 |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$9,773Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.4%±9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Hooksett 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% |
6.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
91.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 4% above NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
32.4%±5.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | #20 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Goffstown School District | Amherst School District · Souhegan Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Goffstown High School | Souhegan Coop High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.6Highest |
10.4Lowest |
| 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.