Compare towns
Hooksett vs Middlesex vs Wardsboro vs South Hooksett
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%).
Middlesex has the most people working from home (28.4%).
Wardsboro has the most affordable homes ($299k median).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Middlesex | Wardsboro | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
1,943 |
820Lowest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.8% U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
44.4±3.9 14% above U.S. |
51.6±7.3Highest 33% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Wardsboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21.3%±3.1Highest U.S.: 22% |
18.8%±6.5 U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Middlesex and Wardsboro 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% |
20.6%±3.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
27.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wardsboro and Middlesex are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
54.7%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.2%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.9%±0.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$109,632±$13k 36% above U.S. |
$62,000±$6kLowest 23% below U.S. |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| South Hooksett 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. |
$376,300±$40k 13% above U.S. |
$299,300±$47kLowest 10% below U.S. |
$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| South Hooksett and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,333±$359Lowest 6% below U.S. |
$1,479±$224 5% above U.S. |
$1,471±$217 4% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Wardsboro 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. |
$6,483 108% above U.S. |
$4,345Lowest 39% above U.S. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
54.5%±58Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Wardsboro 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% |
3.8% U.S.: 12.5% |
7.7%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
96.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1978Lowest 2 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
28.4%±10.7Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.3%±5.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | — | — | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | River Valleys Unified School District #73 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.