Compare towns

Hooksett vs North Reading vs Goffstown

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
North Reading has the most people working from home (26.1%).
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.

MeasureHooksettNorth ReadingGoffstown
People
Population
15,057Lowest
15,765
18,513Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+4.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
43±2.8Highest
11% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
North Reading and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
22.3%±2.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
North Reading 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
U.S.: 17.2%
16.7%±2Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
Goffstown 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
U.S.: 35.7%
56.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
4.2%±1.2Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$147,768±$25kHighest
83% above U.S.
$113,958±$12kLowest
41% above U.S.
North Reading 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
22% above U.S.
$710,500±$24kHighest
114% above U.S.
$377,400±$20kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$2,259±$356Highest
60% above U.S.
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$9,693Highest
211% above U.S.
$6,941
123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
75.5%±25.2Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
North Reading and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
2.7%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
84.3%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1975Lowest
5 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minLowest
about the U.S. average
34 minHighest
27% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
26.1%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #33 of 282 in MA #35 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District North Reading Goffstown School District
High school in town None in town North Reading High Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
10.1Lowest
12.6Highest
On TownTapestry
Old photos in History None yet None yet None yet

U.S. 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.