Compare towns
Hooksett vs Methuen vs Manchester
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 homeowners (80.6%).
Methuen has the most expensive homes ($500k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Methuen | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
53,475 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7 about the U.S. average |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±1.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$113,310±$7k 40% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Methuen 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. |
$499,700±$17kHighest 50% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37Lowest 11% above U.S. |
| Methuen and Hooksett 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. |
$5,061Lowest 62% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and Methuen 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% |
7.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Manchester 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 | #236 of 282 in MA | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Methuen | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 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.