Compare towns
Hudson vs Hanover vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hudson has the oldest population (median age 45.7).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Hudson | Hanover | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 25,557Highest |
11,685Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.7±1.9Highest 6% above NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±2.1 NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Hudson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 20.7%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hudson and Hanover are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 7%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $124,213±$6k 25% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $438,900±$11k 9% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,735±$123 16% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,636 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.3%±7.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.6% NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 31 minHighest 18% above NH |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 19.6%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Hudson 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 | #63 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Hudson School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Alvirne High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.6Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet |
NH 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.