Compare towns

Hooksett vs Manchester vs Readfield

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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Readfield has the most people working from home (24.3%).

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.

MeasureHooksettManchesterReadfield
People
Population
15,057
115,643Highest
2,651Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
0%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
38±1Lowest
about the U.S. average
48.1±7.6Highest
24% above U.S.
Readfield 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%
18%±1
U.S.: 22%
18.7%±3.9Highest
U.S.: 22%
Readfield and Manchester 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%
15.5%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
22.3%±4.5Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Readfield 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%
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
48.8%Highest
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%
3.3%±2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$81,007±$2kLowest
about the U.S. average
$86,504±$8k
7% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26kHighest
22% above U.S.
$365,600±$7k
10% above U.S.
$326,400±$20kLowest
about the U.S. average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,564±$37
11% above U.S.
$1,125±$844Lowest
20% 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.
$3,392Lowest
9% 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%
31.3%±100Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
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
U.S.: 12.5%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
5%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
48.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
89.9%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1979
1 yr older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±1.3
U.S.: 15.1%
24.3%±14.9Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
Readfield 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 #115 of 120 in NH #20 of 133 in ME
School district Hooksett School District Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District RSU 38
High school in town None in town Manchester Memorial High School Maranacook Community High Sch
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3Highest
11.5Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet 6 photos → None yet

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.