Compare towns

Hooksett vs Pownal 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%).
Pownal has the most affordable homes ($257k 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.

MeasureHooksettPownalGoffstown
People
Population
15,057
3,265Lowest
18,513Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
-7.6%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
49±9.1Highest
26% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
Pownal 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
U.S.: 22%
16.4%±5.3
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Hooksett and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
27.5%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Pownal 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%
U.S.: 35.7%
28.2%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.3%±1.5Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11kHighest
46% above U.S.
$64,163±$21kLowest
21% below U.S.
$113,958±$12k
41% above U.S.
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
22% above U.S.
$256,600±$32kLowest
23% below U.S.
$377,400±$20k
13% above U.S.
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
18% above U.S.
$944±$139Lowest
33% below U.S.
$1,231±$161
13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$3,560Lowest
14% above U.S.
$6,941Highest
123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
48.4%±18.5
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Goffstown and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
3.3%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
8.6%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1969Lowest
11 yrs older than U.S.
1982
2 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
27 min
about the U.S. average
21 minLowest
20% below U.S.
28 minHighest
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
16.4%±6.7Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.8%±2.2
U.S.: 15.1%
Pownal and Goffstown 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 #67 of 70 in VT #35 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Southwest Vermont Union Elementary School District #87 Goffstown School District
High school in town None in town None in town Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
12.6
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.