Compare towns

Hooksett vs 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%).
Reading has the most people working from home (30.2%).
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.

MeasureHooksettReadingGoffstown
People
Population
15,057Lowest
25,612Highest
18,513
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+3.1%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
41.3±1.5Lowest
6% above U.S.
43.7±2.3Highest
12% above U.S.
41.3±3.1Lowest
6% above U.S.
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%
22.8%±2.2Highest
U.S.: 22%
16%±2.5Lowest
U.S.: 22%
Age 65+
17.3%±2.4Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
20.7%±2.3Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
19%±2.8
U.S.: 17.2%
Reading 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%
66.3%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
42.8%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
8.9%±1.6
U.S.: 6.4%
2.9%±0.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
14.5%±1.7Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$165,912±$13kHighest
106% above U.S.
$113,958±$12kLowest
41% above U.S.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$809,000±$22kHighest
143% above U.S.
$377,400±$20kLowest
13% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,661±$206
18% above U.S.
$1,991±$273Highest
41% above U.S.
$1,231±$161Lowest
13% below U.S.
Reading and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,554Lowest
110% above U.S.
$9,320Highest
199% above U.S.
$6,941
123% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
41.7%±16.4
U.S.: 51.1%
27.8%±9.1Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
58.1%±20Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
Goffstown and Hooksett 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%
3.2%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
6.4%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
80.6%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
82.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
82.7%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1988Highest
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1960Lowest
20 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
31 minHighest
17% above U.S.
28 min
5% above U.S.
Work from home
13.4%±3.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
30.2%±4.1Highest
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 #50 of 282 in MA #35 of 120 in NH
School district Hooksett School District Reading Goffstown School District
High school in town None in town Reading Memorial High Goffstown High School
Students per teacherat that high school —
12.1Lowest
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.