Compare towns
Hooksett vs Manchester vs Northfield
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%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Northfield has the most affordable homes ($289k 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 | Manchester | Northfield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
115,643Highest |
4,971Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+0.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
42.6±5.1Highest about the NH average |
| Northfield 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 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
| Hooksett and Northfield 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 |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
$288,500±$33kLowest 28% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
| Hooksett and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,922 11% below NH |
$5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
71.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1979 same as NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
26 min 4% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Manchester 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | #109 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Winnisquam Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.