Compare towns
Hooksett vs New Boston vs Merrimack
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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+14.8%).
Merrimack has the shortest commute (27 min average).
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 | Merrimack |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
6,165Lowest |
28,164Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
38.8±3.4Lowest 10% below NH |
41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
| Merrimack 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% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
22%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| New Boston and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
16.8%±1.8Lowest 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% |
50.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.2 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$154,250±$25kHighest 56% above NH |
$127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
| New Boston and Merrimack 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±$59kHighest 20% above NH |
$458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
| New Boston and Merrimack 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 |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
$1,932±$147Highest 30% above NH |
| Merrimack 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 |
$8,181Highest 23% above NH |
$7,345 10% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
34.9%±9.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Merrimack 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% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
88% NH: 72.8% |
88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
1985Lowest 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
| New Boston and Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | New Boston School District | Merrimack School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Merrimack High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.5 |
| 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.