Compare towns

Hooksett vs Princeton 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%).
Princeton has the most people working from home (29.5%).
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.

MeasureHooksettPrincetonGoffstown
People
Population
15,057
3,529Lowest
18,513Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+2.4%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
46.1±7Highest
19% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
Princeton 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%
22.2%±4.6Highest
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Princeton and Hooksett 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%
20.9%±3.6Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Princeton 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%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
59.4%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
1.9%±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.
$158,750±$46kHighest
97% above U.S.
$113,958±$12kLowest
41% above U.S.
Princeton 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.
$520,500±$48kHighest
56% above U.S.
$377,400±$20kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$897±$852Lowest
37% below U.S.
$1,231±$161
13% below U.S.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$6,633
113% above U.S.
$6,941Highest
123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
69.8%±46.7Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20
U.S.: 51.1%
Princeton and Goffstown 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%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
94.3%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
37 minHighest
38% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
29.5%±6.8Highest
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 #59 of 282 in MA #35 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Wachusett 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.