Compare towns
Hooksett vs Newton vs Kingston vs Goffstown
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%).
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Kingston has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k 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 | Newton | Kingston | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
4,836Lowest |
6,275 |
18,513Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7% NH: +4.6% |
+2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
41.3±3.1Lowest 5% below NH |
| Kingston and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
13.5%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Newton 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%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.7%±6Highest NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Kingston and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
37.9% NH: 40.6% |
35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
3.6%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$105,330±$12kLowest 6% above NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
| Newton 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 about the NH average |
$459,500±$18k 14% above NH |
$492,900±$58kHighest 22% above NH |
$377,400±$20kLowest 6% below NH |
| Kingston and Newton 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 |
$1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,231±$161Lowest 17% below NH |
| Newton 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 |
$8,124Highest 22% above NH |
$7,906 19% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8Highest NH: 48.2% |
46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20 NH: 48.2% |
| Newton and Goffstown 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% |
7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
90.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
1982Lowest 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
34 minHighest 27% above NH |
28 min 4% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Newton and Kingston 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #78 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Sanborn Regional High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 12.9Highest |
12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.