Compare towns
Hooksett vs Worcester vs Calais vs South Hooksett
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%).
Worcester has the most affordable homes ($271k median).
Calais has the most kids (22.5% under 18).
South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
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 | Worcester | Calais | South Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 15,057Highest |
831Lowest |
1,713 |
5,902 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.4% U.S.: +7.4% |
+8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 41.3±1.5 6% above U.S. |
47±2.7Highest 21% above U.S. |
42±8.6 8% above U.S. |
35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
| Worcester and Calais 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% |
12.8%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±5.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
16.3%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Calais 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% |
19.5%±2.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
21.6%±5.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Calais and Worcester 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% |
53% U.S.: 35.7% |
55.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
37.9%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 8.9%±1.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
6.9%±4.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
7.4%±3.4 U.S.: 6.4% |
14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $117,962±$11k 46% above U.S. |
$73,833±$18kLowest 9% below U.S. |
$100,625±$27k 25% above U.S. |
$130,000±$15kHighest 61% above U.S. |
| South Hooksett 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. |
$271,100±$27kLowest 19% below U.S. |
$390,300±$36k 17% above U.S. |
$433,200±$40kHighest 30% above U.S. |
| South Hooksett 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. |
$1,023±$136Lowest 28% below U.S. |
$1,408±$392 about the U.S. average |
$1,471±$217 4% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and South Hooksett 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. |
$4,421Lowest 42% above U.S. |
$6,586 111% above U.S. |
$6,801Highest 118% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
25.5%±37Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
49%±38.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
36.1%±25 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Calais and Hooksett 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% |
5.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
8.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
85.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
92.4%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1976Lowest 4 yrs older than U.S. |
1985 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
29 min 9% above U.S. |
31 minHighest 18% above U.S. |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
23.6%±4.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.4%±7.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Worcester and Calais 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 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | Washington Central Unified Union School District #92 | — |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | — |
| 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.