Compare towns
Hooksett vs Wells vs South Berwick
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 highest household income ($118k).
Wells has grown the fastest since 2010 (+18%).
South Berwick has the most kids (26.7% under 18).
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 | Wells | South Berwick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
11,713 |
7,670Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+18%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
53.6±3.8Highest 38% above U.S. |
39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±3.4 U.S.: 22% |
26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Wells 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% |
31%±3.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
43.3%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.5%±1.5 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$88,024±$11kLowest 9% above U.S. |
$99,572±$13k 23% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and South Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kLowest 22% above U.S. |
$485,300±$23kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$428,300±$26k 29% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,350±$297Lowest 4% below U.S. |
$1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
| South Berwick and Hooksett 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. |
$3,215Lowest 3% above U.S. |
$4,956 59% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.1%±19.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Wells 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% |
6.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1989Highest 9 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 4% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.8%±4.2Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Wells and South Berwick 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 | #22 of 133 in ME | #58 of 133 in ME |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Wells-Ogunquit CSD | RSU 35/MSAD 35 |
| High school in town | None in town | Wells High School | Marshwood High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.4Lowest |
13.0Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | 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.