Compare towns
Hooksett vs Rochester vs Hampstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hampstead has the most people working from home (21%).
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 | Rochester | Hampstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
33,144Highest |
9,102Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+5.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
45.3±6.1Highest 5% above NH |
| Hampstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7 NH: 18.2% |
21.3%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hampstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hampstead and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
44.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$112,348±$18k 13% above NH |
| Hooksett and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$279,100±$10kLowest 31% below NH |
$521,100±$45kHighest 29% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,299±$149Lowest 13% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$8,634Highest 30% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
44.1%±20.2 NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester and Hampstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
26 minLowest about the NH average |
30 minHighest 13% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21%±4.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Hampstead and Hooksett 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #49 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Rochester School District | Hampstead School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.