Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hampstead vs Alton
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 the shortest commute (27 min average).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Alton has the oldest population (median age 53.7).
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 | Hampstead | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
9,102 |
5,994Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1 5% above NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Alton and Hampstead 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% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest 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%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4 NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Hampstead 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% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18kLowest 13% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Hooksett and Alton 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$430,400±$37k 7% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampstead 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% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
4.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead 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 | #49 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| 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.