Compare towns
Hooksett vs New Boston vs Durham
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 the most affordable homes ($407k median).
New Boston has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | New Boston | Durham |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
6,165Lowest |
15,080Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
| Hooksett and New Boston 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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and New Boston 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% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
| New Boston and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
| Durham and New Boston 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 |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,429±$143 4% below NH |
| Hooksett and Durham 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 |
$8,181 23% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Durham 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 NH: 7.2% |
6.3% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston and Durham 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 | #21 of 120 in NH | #9 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | New Boston School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Oyster River High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 51 photos → |
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.