Compare towns
Hooksett vs Merrimack vs Ogunquit vs Allenstown
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 the most renters (19.4% rent).
Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).
Ogunquit has grown the fastest since 2010 (+76.8%).
Allenstown has the most affordable homes ($244k 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 | Ogunquit | Allenstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
28,164Highest |
1,379Lowest |
4,743 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+4.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+76.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
41.5±2.2 7% above U.S. |
62.8±4.8Highest 61% above U.S. |
39.4±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
22%±2.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
5.7%±3.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Merrimack and Allenstown 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%±1.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
43.6%±10.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
50.2% U.S.: 35.7% |
63.5%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
19.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±1.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±2.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$127,219±$16kHighest 58% above U.S. |
$114,259±$56k 42% above U.S. |
$72,500±$21kLowest 10% below 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±$15k 38% above U.S. |
$875,700±$79kHighest 163% above U.S. |
$243,600±$69kLowest 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,932±$147Highest 37% above U.S. |
— | $1,281±$397Lowest 9% 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. |
$4,473 43% above U.S. |
$4,098Lowest 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
34.9%±9.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±61.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Allenstown and Hooksett 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% |
3.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
88.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
94.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 min about the U.S. average |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
21%±3.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
43.3%±12.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| 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 | — | Allenstown School District |
| 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 | 8 photos → |
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.