Compare towns
Hooksett vs Meredith vs Stratham
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%).
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Stratham has the most expensive homes ($655k median).
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 | Meredith | Stratham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
6,758Lowest |
7,754 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.6±4.9 4% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.5%±5.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Stratham and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
20.6%±3.6 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
69.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
3.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$151,998±$20kHighest 53% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$655,400±$36kHighest 63% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$2,511±$377Highest 68% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$9,781Highest 47% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
64%±38.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Stratham and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
25.3%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Stratham and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #43 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Exeter Region Cooperative School District · Stratham School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.1 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.