Compare towns
Hooksett vs Madbury vs Strafford
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%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Madbury | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
2,203Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
37.7±2.1Lowest 13% below NH |
46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
| Madbury and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Madbury and Strafford 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 |
$1,574±$759Lowest 6% above NH |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Hooksett and Strafford 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford 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% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 5% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford and Madbury 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.