Compare towns
Loudon vs Ossipee vs Hooksett vs Wakefield
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Ossipee has the most kids (19.5% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Wakefield has the most people working from home (15.1%).
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 | Loudon | Ossipee | Hooksett | Wakefield |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,692 |
4,521Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,405 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.9% NH: +4.6% |
+0.6%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+2.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.5±3.2 14% above NH |
50±4.6Highest 15% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
| Ossipee and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.8%±4.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.5%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
18.7%±3.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Ossipee and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 22%±4.4 NH: 20.1% |
26.3%±5.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
| Ossipee and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 29.3% NH: 40.6% |
24.8%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
26.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
2.9%±1.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
1.4%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $106,966±$16k 8% above NH |
$90,521±$22kLowest 9% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$100,976±$11k about the NH average |
| Hooksett and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $363,400±$48k 10% below NH |
$325,500±$23k 19% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
| Hooksett and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,321±$465Lowest 11% below NH |
$1,601±$245 7% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,375±$434 8% below NH |
| Hooksett and Ossipee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,821 13% below NH |
$4,401 34% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 45.5%±30.4 NH: 48.2% |
72%±16.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Ossipee and Loudon are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4.4% NH: 7.2% |
8.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
7.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.6% NH: 72.8% |
82% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1979Lowest same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980 1 yr newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 14% above NH |
33 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 8.9%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
5.3%±3.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield and Hooksett 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 | #99 of 120 in NH | #100 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #118 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack Valley School District | Governor Wentworth Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Wakefield School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| 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.