Compare towns
Hooksett vs Waterville vs Allenstown
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 the most expensive homes ($407k median).
Waterville has the oldest population (median age 49.1).
Allenstown has the shortest commute (24 min average).
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 | Waterville | Allenstown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
680Lowest |
4,743 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+1.9%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
49.1±8.2Highest 26% above U.S. |
39.4±4.7Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Waterville 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% |
20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
19.9%±4.5 U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Allenstown 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% |
14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
16.4%±3.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Allenstown 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% |
32.1% U.S.: 35.7% |
19.7%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±3.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
0.7%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Waterville 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 46% above U.S. |
$71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$72,500±$21k 10% below U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$243,600±$69k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,281±$397 9% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Allenstown 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. |
$3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$4,098 31% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
57.8%±29.8Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Allenstown and Waterville 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% |
4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
11.9%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1981 1 yr newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
8.5%±3 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Waterville 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 | — | — |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Allenstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 8 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.