Compare towns
Hooksett vs Mapleton vs Strafford
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%).
Mapleton has the most affordable homes ($192k median).
Strafford has the most people working from home (15.9%).
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 | Mapleton | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
1,884Lowest |
4,306 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.8±6 7% above U.S. |
46.3±2.1Highest 19% above U.S. |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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% |
22.2%±5.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.6%±3.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Mapleton and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
18.3%±3.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
19.4%±4.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Strafford and Mapleton 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% |
34.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
40.2%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$91,731±$25kLowest 14% above U.S. |
$122,105±$22kHighest 51% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$191,800±$23kLowest 42% below U.S. |
$427,900±$29kHighest 29% above U.S. |
| Strafford 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. |
$610±$277Lowest 57% below U.S. |
$1,635±$246 16% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Strafford 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. |
$1,789Lowest 43% below U.S. |
$6,086 95% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
16.7%±10.5Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
76.3%±30.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Strafford 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% |
8.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
8% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
93.5%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1977Lowest 3 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
36 minHighest 36% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.8%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
15.9%±5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Strafford 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 | — | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | RSU 79/MSAD 01 | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.