Compare towns
Hooksett vs Hull vs Needham
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 the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Hull has the oldest population (median age 56.1).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Hull | Needham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
10,138Lowest |
32,459Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.1%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
56.1±1.8Highest 44% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
11.4%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
26.1%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.4% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$115,485±$14kLowest 43% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$646,000±$38k 94% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 18% above U.S. |
$2,081±$187 47% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
| Needham and Hull are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,089Lowest 95% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.8%±14 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Hull 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% |
5.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1946Lowest 34 yrs older than U.S. |
1965 15 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 26% above U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
19.7%±4.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #66 of 282 in MA | #19 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | — | Needham |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Needham High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.