Compare towns
Hooksett vs Sunapee vs Alton
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 most kids (17.4% under 18).
Sunapee has the most renters (24.1% rent).
Alton has the most homeowners (93.7%).
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 | Sunapee | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
3,416Lowest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% NH: +4.6% |
-0.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
56.7±1.4Highest 31% above NH |
53.7±3.2 24% above NH |
| Sunapee and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
9.9%±3.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Alton 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% |
33.3%±7.1Highest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5 NH: 20.1% |
| Sunapee and Alton 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
4.5%±3.5 NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sunapee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$101,393±$20kLowest about the NH average |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Hooksett and Alton 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 |
$393,000±$51kLowest about the NH average |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
| Alton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
$1,713±$451Highest 15% above NH |
— |
| Sunapee and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,400 34% below NH |
$4,183Lowest 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
34.6%±10.5 NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Sunapee 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% |
12.4%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.9%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 23% above NH |
33 minHighest 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
9.5%±4.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2 NH: 16.8% |
| Hooksett and Alton 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 | #14 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Sunapee School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Sunapee Sr. High School | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Highest |
11.1Lowest |
| 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.