Compare towns
Hooksett vs Milford vs Nelson
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%).
Milford has the most renters (35.1% rent).
Nelson has the most people working from home (31.5%).
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 | Milford | Nelson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
16,337Highest |
648Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
-13.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
36.8±2.5Lowest 15% below NH |
42.3±11.7Highest about the NH average |
| Nelson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
23.7%±3.6 NH: 18.2% |
27.5%±6.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Nelson and Milford 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% |
15.1%±1.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.8%±2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
61.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±1.3 NH: 6% |
0.9%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$97,768±$14kLowest about the NH average |
$99,792±$23k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Nelson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$340,900±$49kLowest 15% below NH |
| Hooksett and Milford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,661±$126Highest 11% above NH |
$1,203±$243Lowest 19% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$7,522Highest 13% above NH |
$5,575Lowest 16% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
49.6%±15.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
40%±68.8Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Milford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
64.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
24 minLowest 9% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
31.5%±8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #55 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Milford School District | Nelson School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Milford High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.