Compare towns

Hooksett vs Manchester vs Townsend

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).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).

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.

MeasureHooksettManchesterTownsend
People
Population
15,057
115,643Highest
9,100Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.5%
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.3%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Highest
6% above U.S.
38±1Lowest
about the U.S. average
40.9±3.3
5% above U.S.
Hooksett and Townsend 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%
21%±3.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
Townsend 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
U.S.: 17.2%
15.5%±0.8Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.1%±2.1
U.S.: 17.2%
Hooksett and Townsend 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
U.S.: 35.7%
34%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
35.5%
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%
5.1%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$81,007±$2kLowest
about the U.S. average
$121,528±$23kHighest
51% above U.S.
Townsend and Hooksett 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.
$433,200±$22kHighest
30% above U.S.
Townsend and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,564±$37
11% above U.S.
$1,469±$313Lowest
4% above 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.
$5,922Lowest
90% above U.S.
$6,031
93% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
50%±3.6
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±16.8Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Townsend 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%
11.2%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.9%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
48.7%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1966Lowest
14 yrs older than U.S.
1976
4 yrs older than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
24 minLowest
9% below U.S.
37 minHighest
41% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
14.1%±1.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
10.5%±2.8Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
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 #136 of 282 in MA
School district Hooksett School District Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District North Middlesex
High school in town None in town Manchester Memorial High School North Middlesex Regional
Students per teacherat that high school —
14.3Highest
13.1Lowest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in Our Story 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.