Compare towns
Hooksett vs Lowell vs Williston vs Manchester
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 the highest household income ($118k).
Lowell has the most renters (56.8% rent).
Williston has the most people working from home (22.3%).
Manchester has the most affordable homes ($366k 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 | Lowell | Williston | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
118,368Highest |
10,144Lowest |
115,643 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
35.6±0.8Lowest 8% below U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
38±1 about the U.S. average |
| Williston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
21.7%±1.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Lowell and Williston 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% |
12.6%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston 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% |
30%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
9.7%±0.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Lowell and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,658±$4kLowest about the U.S. average |
$106,967±$12k 32% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Williston 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. |
$429,200±$11k 29% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40kHighest 43% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Williston and Lowell are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,625±$40 15% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130Highest 30% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Williston and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,499Lowest 44% above U.S. |
$5,592 79% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
52.4%±3.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Lowell and Manchester 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% |
16.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
43.2%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1953Lowest 27 yrs older than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 6% above U.S. |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.6%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Williston and Manchester 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 | #255 of 282 in MA | #11 of 70 in VT | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Lowell | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Lowell High | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.8Highest |
— | 14.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.