Compare towns
Hooksett vs Wells River 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 the most homeowners (80.6%).
Wells River has the most affordable homes ($171k median).
Manchester 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 | Wells River | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 15,057 |
340Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
— | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
42.7±12.7Highest 10% above U.S. |
38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
| Wells River and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±6.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Manchester and Hooksett 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% |
19.4%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Wells River 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%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
16.3%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
34% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
0.6%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$38,688±$5kLowest 52% below U.S. |
$81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$170,800±$103kLowest 49% below U.S. |
$365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$900±$336Lowest 36% below U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above 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 | $6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,154Lowest 33% above U.S. |
$5,922 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
47.6%±14.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and Wells River 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% |
38.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
47.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
34 minHighest 27% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
5.2%±9.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Manchester and Hooksett 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 | — | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | — | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | 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.