Compare towns
Hooksett vs Kensington vs Hampton
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%).
Kensington has the highest household income ($165k).
Hampton has the oldest population (median age 55.8).
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 | Kensington | Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
2,009Lowest |
16,426Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43.3±5.9 about the NH average |
55.8±2.1Highest 29% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±2.6 NH: 18.2% |
11.6%±2.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Kensington 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% |
18.8%±2.9 NH: 20.1% |
30.9%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
48.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
42.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.3 NH: 6% |
3.1%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$165,083±$18kHighest 67% above NH |
$95,233±$9kLowest 4% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$657,700±$47kHighest 63% above NH |
$550,200±$39k 37% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,813±$627Highest 22% above NH |
$1,628±$94Lowest 9% above NH |
| Kensington and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$9,637Highest 45% above NH |
$6,813 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
24.4%±38.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
56.8%±10.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Hampton and Hooksett 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% |
1.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
92.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
29 minHighest 7% above NH |
26 minLowest 3% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.2%±3.9 NH: 16.8% |
21.7%±3.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampton and Kensington 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 | — | #31 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Kensington School District | Hampton School District · Winnacunnet Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Winnacunnet High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.1 |
| 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.