Compare towns
Hooksett vs Newton vs Strafford vs South Hooksett
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 most people working from home (18.1%).
Strafford has the most homeowners (93.5%).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Strafford | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
4,836 |
4,306Lowest |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
+8.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.8±5.7Highest 10% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
| Newton and Strafford 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% |
17.1%±4.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Strafford 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%±3 NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Strafford 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% NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
40.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.7%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$122,105±$22k 23% above NH |
$130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
| Newton and South Hooksett 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 |
$459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
$433,200±$40k 8% above NH |
| Newton and South Hooksett 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 |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
| Newton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$8,124Highest 22% above NH |
$6,086Lowest 9% below NH |
$6,801 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Newton 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% |
7.5% NH: 7.2% |
8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
90.1% NH: 72.8% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
82.9% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
30 min 13% above NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 NH: 16.8% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Newton and Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Sanborn Regional School District | Strafford School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.