Compare towns
Hooksett vs Sheldon vs Williamstown 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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Sheldon has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Williamstown has the most affordable homes ($235k 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 | Sheldon | Williamstown | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
2,267Lowest |
3,579 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-2.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.5 5% above U.S. |
42±5Highest 8% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Williamstown 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 U.S.: 22% |
23.7%±3.6Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Sheldon and Williamstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
12.6%±2.3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17%±3.9 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Williamstown 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 U.S.: 35.7% |
14.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
17.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.8%±3.2 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,533±$25kLowest about the U.S. average |
$94,418±$10k 17% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$272,400±$61k 18% below U.S. |
$234,900±$24kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,286±$379Lowest 9% below U.S. |
$1,659±$189 17% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Williamstown 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. |
$3,578Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$3,841 23% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
0%±27Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
83.7%±100Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Williamstown 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 U.S.: 12.5% |
5.1% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
89% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1984 4 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
25 min 5% below U.S. |
23 minLowest 12% below U.S. |
24 min 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
13%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.9%±6.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Manchester and Williamstown 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 | — | #47 of 70 in VT | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Northern Mountain Valley Unified Union School District #85 | Paine Mountain Union School District #68 | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Williamstown Middle/High School | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 9.5Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| 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.