Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hardwick vs Ware vs Goffstown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hardwick has the oldest population (median age 45.3).
Ware has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Goffstown has the most homeowners (82.7%).
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 | Hardwick | Ware | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
2,684Lowest |
6,369 |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-10.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
45.3±9.8Highest 16% above U.S. |
39.8±6Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±3.1 6% above U.S. |
| Hardwick 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 U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.6 U.S.: 22% |
23.3%±4.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.4%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hardwick 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
30.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
15.4%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±4.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
3.7%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$75,000±$22k 7% below U.S. |
$45,158±$11kLowest 44% below U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$346,700±$67k 4% above U.S. |
$253,400±$31kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,108±$119 22% below U.S. |
$1,039±$104Lowest 26% below U.S. |
$1,231±$161 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$4,400 41% above U.S. |
$3,408Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,941Highest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
59%±13.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.5%±17.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Ware and Hardwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11% U.S.: 12.5% |
14.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
68.2% U.S.: 65.2% |
57.4%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
8.7%±4.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
16.6%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Ware and Goffstown 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 | #163 of 282 in MA | #267 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Quabbin | — | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 12.6 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.