Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hampstead vs Bennington
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%).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
Bennington has the most affordable homes ($267k median).
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 | Bennington |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
9,102 |
1,588Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
+1.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
42.1±7.8 about the NH average |
| Hampstead and Bennington are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
26%±5.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Bennington and Hampstead 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% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.2%±1.7Lowest 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% NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
33.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
$83,875±$7kLowest 15% below NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead 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 |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
$267,300±$15kLowest 34% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,299±$149 13% below NH |
$1,292±$150Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
$5,944Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
37.2%±20.6Lowest 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
37 minHighest 38% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.7%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Bennington 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 | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Hampstead School District | Contoocook Valley School District |
| High school in town | None 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.