Compare towns
Hooksett vs Manchester vs Wolfeboro
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).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Manchester | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
115,643Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Wolfeboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% 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 |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 min 10% below NH |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.