Compare towns
Hooksett vs Jackson vs New Castle
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 most affordable homes ($407k median).
Jackson has grown the fastest since 2010 (+26%).
New Castle has the most expensive homes ($1701k 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 | Jackson | New Castle |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
897 |
827Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+26%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+3.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
60.5±2.5 40% above NH |
62.8±6Highest 45% above NH |
| New Castle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
4.1%±4.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
12.9%±7.1 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and New Castle 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% |
28.4%±6.4 NH: 20.1% |
44.3%±16.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| New Castle and Jackson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
67.7% NH: 40.6% |
68.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3%±3.4 NH: 6% |
0.6%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$117,986±$46k 19% above NH |
$176,953±$29kHighest 79% above NH |
| New Castle and Jackson 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 |
$719,300±$109k 79% above NH |
$1,701,300±$267kHighest 323% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,750±$1k 17% above NH |
$3,501Highest 135% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$6,001Lowest 10% below NH |
$8,509Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
21.1%±59.9 NH: 48.2% |
0%±85.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Jackson 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% |
16.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.6% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
91.4% NH: 72.8% |
93%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 31% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±10.2 NH: 16.8% |
40.1%±19.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| New Castle and Jackson 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Jackson School District | New Castle 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.