Compare towns
Keene vs Hooksett vs Madbury
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Keene has the most affordable homes ($253k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Madbury has the most kids (29% 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 | Keene | Hooksett | Madbury |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,939Highest |
15,057 |
2,203Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
| Hooksett and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 19.5%±1.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Keene and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 44.1% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
52.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
| Madbury and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$476,900±$31kHighest 18% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
| Hooksett and Madbury are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,812 about the NH average |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.5%±6.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Keene and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 17 minLowest 36% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
25 min 5% below NH |
| Work from home | 15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Keene and Madbury 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 | #81 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Keene School District | Hooksett School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school in town | Keene High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.3 |
— | — |
| 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.