Compare towns
Hooksett vs Pembroke vs Goffstown vs Manchester
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%).
Pembroke has the most kids (24% under 18).
Goffstown has the most homeowners (82.7%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Pembroke | Goffstown | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
7,438Lowest |
18,513 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+1.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
41.9±3.3Highest 3% below NH |
41.3±3.1 5% below NH |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Pembroke 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 NH: 18.2% |
24%±4.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
16%±2.5Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
16.4%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
19%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| 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% NH: 40.6% |
32.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
42.8%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 6% |
14.5%±1.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$89,519±$22k 10% below NH |
$113,958±$12k 15% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Hooksett and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$371,500±$20k 8% below NH |
$377,400±$20k 6% below NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Hooksett and Goffstown 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 |
$1,218±$354Lowest 18% below NH |
$1,231±$161 17% below NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Hooksett and Manchester 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 |
$7,589Highest 14% above NH |
$6,941 4% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.4%±21.8 NH: 48.2% |
58.1%±20Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Goffstown and Manchester 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% |
15%Highest NH: 7.2% |
6.4% NH: 7.2% |
11.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
67.4% NH: 72.8% |
82.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1969 10 yrs older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
25 min 8% below NH |
28 minHighest 4% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
17%±4.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.8%±2.2 NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Pembroke and Manchester 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 | #85 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Pembroke School District | Goffstown School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Pembroke Academy | Goffstown High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
12.6Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 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.