Compare towns
Hooksett vs Sandown vs Jaffrey vs Manchester
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%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Jaffrey has the most affordable homes ($246k median).
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 | Sandown | Jaffrey | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
6,628 |
5,448Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
-2.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
42.9±3.9Highest about the NH average |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
| Jaffrey and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5 NH: 18.2% |
23.1%±5.1Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Jaffrey and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.5%±3.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Jaffrey and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
31.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
3.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$92,330±$18k 7% below NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett 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 |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$245,500±$27kLowest 39% below NH |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$962±$202Lowest 35% below NH |
$1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 about the NH average |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,196 7% below NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
45.7%±23 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Manchester 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% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
3.8% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
81.8% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1973 6 yrs older than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
25 min 8% below NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
7.5%±4.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Manchester 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #87 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Conant Middle High School (H) | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 21.3Highest |
14.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.