Compare towns
Hooksett vs Townsend vs Manchester vs Goffstown
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%).
Townsend has the most kids (21% under 18).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Goffstown has the most homeowners (82.7%).
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 | Townsend | Manchester | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
9,100Lowest |
115,643Highest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+2.3%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
40.9±3.3 5% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±3.1Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
21%±3.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Townsend and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.1%±2.1 U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Goffstown 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
35.5% U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$121,528±$23kHighest 51% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Townsend 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 22% above U.S. |
$433,200±$22kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20k 13% above U.S. |
| Townsend and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,469±$313 4% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,031 93% above U.S. |
$5,922Lowest 90% above U.S. |
$6,941Highest 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.6%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Townsend 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% |
8.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
82% U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1966Lowest 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1982 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
37 minHighest 41% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
10.5%±2.8Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Manchester and Goffstown 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 | #136 of 282 in MA | #115 of 120 in NH | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | North Middlesex | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | North Middlesex Regional | Manchester Memorial High School | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 13.1 |
14.3Highest |
12.6Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet |
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.