Compare towns
Hooksett vs Kingston vs Meredith vs Newfields
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%).
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
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 | Kingston | Meredith | Newfields |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,275 |
6,758 |
2,023Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields 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% |
24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Newfields 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 |
$105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
| Newfields and Hooksett 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 |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Kingston 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% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
26 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Meredith 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Newfields School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.