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.
| Measure | Hooksett | Reading | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| 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.


