Compare towns
Hooksett vs Williston vs Needham 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
Williston has grown the fastest since 2010 (+16.2%).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k median).
Goffstown has the most affordable homes ($377k median).
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 | Williston | Needham | Goffstown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057 |
10,144Lowest |
32,459Highest |
18,513 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
+16.2%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
45.4±4.5Highest 17% above U.S. |
43.1±1.6 11% above U.S. |
41.3±3.1Lowest 6% above U.S. |
| Williston and Needham 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% |
20.5%±5.2 U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
16%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Needham and Williston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
21%±3.5Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7 U.S.: 17.2% |
19%±2.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Williston and Goffstown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
54.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
42.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.7%±2.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
14.5%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$106,967±$12kLowest 32% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$113,958±$12k 41% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$475,800±$40k 43% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$377,400±$20kLowest 13% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,832±$130 30% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,231±$161Lowest 13% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,554 110% above U.S. |
$5,592Lowest 79% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$6,941 123% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
46.9%±17.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
58.1%±20Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Goffstown and Needham 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% |
4.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
6.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
75.1%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1993Highest 13 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 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 |
20 minLowest 25% below U.S. |
28 min 5% above U.S. |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
22.3%±7.6 U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.8%±2.2 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 120 in NH | #11 of 70 in VT | #19 of 282 in MA | #35 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hooksett School District | Champlain Valley Unified Union School District #56 | Needham | Goffstown School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Needham High | Goffstown High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.9Lowest |
12.6Highest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 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.