Compare towns
Hooksett vs Methuen vs Wolfeboro
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 affordable homes ($407k median).
Methuen has the most kids (21.3% under 18).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
53,475Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
39.9±1.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
57±1.8Highest 47% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±1.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Methuen and Hooksett 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% |
17.2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
34.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
31%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.7%±1 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest 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. |
$94,375±$22kLowest 17% above U.S. |
| 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±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$499,700±$17k 50% above U.S. |
$546,500±$60kHighest 64% above U.S. |
| Wolfeboro and Methuen are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,749±$91Highest 24% above U.S. |
$1,103±$76Lowest 22% below 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. |
$5,061 62% above U.S. |
$4,531Lowest 45% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
48.4%±6.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
12%±11.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Methuen and Hooksett 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% |
8.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1968Lowest 12 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 10% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
12.2%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±6.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Methuen | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Methuen High | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.