Compare towns

Hooksett vs Portsmouth vs Concord

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%).
Portsmouth has the most expensive homes ($689k median).
Concord has the most affordable homes ($351k 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.

MeasureHooksettPortsmouthConcord
People
Population
15,057Lowest
22,545
44,375Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+5.7%
NH: +4.6%
+3%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
42.9±2Highest
about the NH average
40.7±1.3Lowest
6% below NH
Portsmouth and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
17.4%±2.9Highest
NH: 18.2%
14%±1.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
17.2%±1.3
NH: 18.2%
Hooksett and Concord are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
21.9%±2.4Highest
NH: 20.1%
18.7%±1.5
NH: 20.1%
Portsmouth and Concord 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%
64%Highest
NH: 40.6%
42.3%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
3.8%±1.2Lowest
NH: 6%
6%±0.8
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11kHighest
19% above NH
$106,219±$7k
7% above NH
$84,902±$5kLowest
14% below NH
Hooksett and Portsmouth 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
$688,500±$39kHighest
71% above NH
$350,900±$13kLowest
13% below NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
11% above NH
$1,869±$111Highest
25% above NH
$1,441±$43Lowest
3% below NH
Portsmouth 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
$8,018Highest
20% above NH
$7,227
8% above NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
NH: 48.2%
50.4%±7.2Highest
NH: 48.2%
44.1%±5.2
NH: 48.2%
Portsmouth and Concord 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%
6.8%
NH: 7.2%
8.9%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Highest
NH: 72.8%
51.9%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
56.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
9 yrs newer than NH
1959Lowest
20 yrs older than NH
1969
10 yrs older than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 minHighest
about the NH average
22 minLowest
17% below NH
23 min
14% below NH
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
NH: 16.8%
21.9%±4Highest
NH: 16.8%
14.1%±1.8
NH: 16.8%
Schools
Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading #30 of 120 in NH #11 of 120 in NH #89 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Portsmouth School District Concord School District · Merrimack Valley School District
High school in town None in town Portsmouth High School Concord High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
11.4Lowest
13.0Highest
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.