Compare towns
Hooksett vs Merrimack vs North Hampton
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%).
Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).
North Hampton has the most expensive homes ($670k 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 | Merrimack | North Hampton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
28,164Highest |
4,543Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
41.5±2.2 4% below NH |
50.5±3.3Highest 17% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.2%±5.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and North Hampton 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% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
26%±4.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.2% NH: 40.6% |
54.5%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
2.5%±1.5Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$146,458±$29kHighest 48% above NH |
| North Hampton and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$670,400±$61kHighest 67% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
$1,805±$106 21% above NH |
| Merrimack and North Hampton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$7,345 10% above NH |
$8,529Highest 28% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
23.5%±21Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| 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%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3% NH: 7.2% |
2.9%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88.9% NH: 72.8% |
91.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1984Lowest 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
25 minLowest 8% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.9%±6.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
| North Hampton 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 | #12 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Merrimack School District | North Hampton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Merrimack High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.5 |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.