Compare towns

Hooksett vs Manchester vs Ogunquit vs Wells

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).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).

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.

MeasureHooksettManchesterOgunquitWells
People
Population
15,057
115,643Highest
1,379Lowest
11,713
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+76.8%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+18%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
38±1Lowest
about the U.S. average
62.8±4.8Highest
61% above U.S.
53.6±3.8
38% above U.S.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
18%±1Highest
U.S.: 22%
5.7%±3.2Lowest
U.S.: 22%
18%±3.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
43.6%±10.1Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
31%±3.3
U.S.: 17.2%
Ogunquit and Wells 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%
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
63.5%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
43.3%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
6.4%±0.7
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
4.5%±1.5
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$81,007±$2kLowest
about the U.S. average
$114,259±$56k
42% above U.S.
$88,024±$11k
9% above U.S.
Hooksett and Ogunquit 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.
$365,600±$7kLowest
10% above U.S.
$875,700±$79kHighest
163% above U.S.
$485,300±$23k
46% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,564±$37
11% above U.S.
—
$1,350±$297Lowest
4% below U.S.
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
110% above U.S.
$5,922
90% above U.S.
$4,473
43% above U.S.
$3,215Lowest
3% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
0%±61.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
42.1%±19.6
U.S.: 51.1%
Manchester and Wells are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.8%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
48.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
90.1%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1978
2 yrs older than U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
26 min
about the U.S. average
28 minHighest
4% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±1.3
U.S.: 15.1%
43.3%±12.4Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
17.8%±4.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #115 of 120 in NH — #22 of 133 in ME
School district Hooksett School District Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District — Wells-Ogunquit CSD
High school in town None in town Manchester Memorial High School — Wells High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3Highest
—
11.4Lowest
On TownTapestry
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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.