Compare towns
Hooksett vs Reading vs Andover vs Manchester
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 the highest household income ($118k).
Reading has the oldest population (median age 51.1).
Andover has the most people working from home (29.6%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Andover | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
699 |
616Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
51.1±7.6Highest 31% above U.S. |
49.2±5.1 26% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
18.5%±4.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
11.5%±4.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Reading and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
28.2%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
22.7%±4.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Reading and Andover 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% |
46%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
3.1%±2.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
2.8%±1.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$85,000±$19k 5% above U.S. |
$102,500±$38k 27% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Andover 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. |
$377,200±$72k 13% above U.S. |
$382,900±$68k 15% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Andover 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. |
$1,100±$331Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,389±$364 about the U.S. average |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,754 84% above U.S. |
$5,190Lowest 66% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
63.3%±31.7 U.S.: 51.1% |
69.4%±47.1Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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% |
8.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
4.6% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
84.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.8% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1969 11 yrs older than U.S. |
1980 same as U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
33 minHighest 25% above U.S. |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.9%±10.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
29.6%±12.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Andover and Reading 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 | — | — | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Mountain Views Unified Union School District #76 | — | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | — | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.