Compare towns
Hooksett vs Merrimack vs Middlesex
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%).
Merrimack has the most expensive homes ($459k median).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
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 | Merrimack | Middlesex |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
28,164Highest |
1,943Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9Highest 14% above U.S. |
| Middlesex and Merrimack 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%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimack and Middlesex 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
20.6%±3.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Middlesex 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%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Middlesex 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. |
$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13kLowest 36% above U.S. |
| Merrimack 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. |
$458,600±$15kHighest 38% above U.S. |
$376,300±$40kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$7,345Highest 135% above U.S. |
$6,483Lowest 108% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Hooksett and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Middlesex and Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Merrimack School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.