Compare towns
Hooksett vs Nashua vs Keene
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%).
Nashua has the most people working from home (17.4%).
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k 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 | Nashua | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Lowest |
91,294Highest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.6% NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
40±1.3 8% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Hooksett and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.6%±1.2Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Nashua 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 NH: 20.1% |
16.9%±1Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.2% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5%±0.6Lowest NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$96,326±$5k about the NH average |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$403,900±$11k about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Hooksett and Nashua are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,737±$41Highest 16% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Nashua and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,799 about the NH average |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
45.8%±4.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Nashua and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.8% NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.8% NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17.4%±1.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7 NH: 16.8% |
| Nashua and Keene 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 | #67 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Nashua School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Nashua High School South | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.8Highest |
12.3Lowest |
| 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.