Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hudson vs Merrimack
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%).
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 46.3).
Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).
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 | Hudson | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
7,469Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
46.3±3.4Highest 7% above NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
| Hudson and Merrimack 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% |
14.8%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack 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% |
20%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson 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% |
28.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.2%±2.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$95,842±$19kLowest 3% below NH |
$127,219±$16kHighest 28% above NH |
| Merrimack 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±$26k about the NH average |
$366,400±$24kLowest 9% below NH |
$458,600±$15kHighest 14% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,722±$86 15% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$5,729Lowest 14% below NH |
$7,345Highest 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±10.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
5.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
73.2%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.3%±7.7 NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Merrimack and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | — | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.