Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lancaster vs Goffstown
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%).
Lancaster has the most affordable homes ($216k median).
Goffstown has the most people working from home (13.8%).
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 | Lancaster | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
3,216Lowest |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-8.2%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.5±6.9Highest 5% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Lancaster and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.9%±6.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Lancaster and Hooksett 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%±5.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
30.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
2.9%±2.2Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$68,911±$23kLowest 30% below NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$215,700±$24kLowest 46% below NH |
$377,400±$20k 6% below NH |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,019±$263Lowest 32% below NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$4,226Lowest 37% below NH |
$6,941Highest 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±17Lowest NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Hooksett 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% |
16.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1942Lowest 37 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
23 minLowest 14% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.5%±6.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Goffstown 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 | #107 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | White Mountains Regional School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.6 |
| 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.