Compare towns
Hooksett vs Keene vs Townsend
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%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Townsend has the most kids (21% 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 | Keene | Townsend |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
22,939Highest |
9,100Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-1.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
37.6±2.3Lowest 3% below U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend 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 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.5%±1.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Keene 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
44.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
13.8%±1.4Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$78,445±$8kLowest about the U.S. average |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 22% above U.S. |
$252,500±$12kLowest 24% below U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Hooksett 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. |
$1,342±$68Lowest 5% below U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Townsend 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. |
$6,812Highest 118% above U.S. |
$6,031Lowest 93% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.5%±6.1 U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Townsend and Keene 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% |
10.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
55.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1961Lowest 19 yrs older than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
17 minLowest 35% below U.S. |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.6%±2.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Keene and Hooksett 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #136 of 282 in MA |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Keene School District | North Middlesex |
| High school in town | None in town | Keene High School | North Middlesex Regional |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Lowest |
13.1Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.