Compare towns
Kingston vs Newfields vs Hooksett vs Meredith
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Kingston has the most renters (25.6% rent).
Newfields has the highest household income ($198k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Meredith has the oldest housing (typical home built 1975).
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 | Kingston | Newfields | Hooksett | Meredith |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,275 |
2,023Lowest |
15,057Highest |
6,758 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+6.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±5.7Highest 28% above NH |
44.1±1.8 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 13.5%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.9%±1.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Newfields and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 24.7%±6 NH: 20.1% |
13.6%±0.9Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 35.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
68.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
45.9% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±2.1 NH: 6% |
7.5%±7.2 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Newfields are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $105,330±$12k 6% above NH |
$197,885±$15kHighest 100% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $492,900±$58k 22% above NH |
$646,400±$34kHighest 61% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,393±$156 7% below NH |
$1,875±$323Highest 26% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
| Newfields and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,906 19% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.9%±46.4 NH: 48.2% |
43.3%±40.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
48.5%±9.2Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Meredith and Kingston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.1%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
2.4% NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
7.7%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 74.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.3%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
75.8% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
26 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.7%±4.3 NH: 16.8% |
25.5%±3.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
| Newfields and Meredith 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 | #78 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #62 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Newfields School District | Hooksett School District | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District |
| High school in town | Sanborn Regional High School | None in town | None in town | Inter-Lakes High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.9Highest |
— | — | 11.1Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.