Compare towns
Hooksett vs Rochester vs Wolfeboro
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 the highest household income ($118k).
Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Wolfeboro has the most people working from home (22.9%).
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 | Wolfeboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
33,144Highest |
6,571Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+2.3%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
43±1.8 about the NH average |
57±1.8Highest 32% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
13.7%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester 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 NH: 20.1% |
19.6%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
34.6%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6% NH: 40.6% |
27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.3%±1 NH: 6% |
2.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$80,836±$3kLowest 18% below NH |
$94,375±$22k 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Wolfeboro 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 |
$546,500±$60kHighest 36% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,103±$76Lowest 26% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,334 20% below NH |
$4,531Lowest 32% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
12%±11.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester and Hooksett 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% |
8.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
66%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
78.1% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1978Lowest 1 yr older than NH |
1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 11% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
22.9%±6.6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wolfeboro 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 | #46 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Rochester School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Spaulding High School | Kingswood Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.2Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.