Compare towns
Manchester vs Bellows Falls vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
Towns like ManchesterNashua
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Manchester has the youngest population (median age 38).
Bellows Falls has the most affordable homes ($196k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Manchester | Bellows Falls | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 115,643Highest |
2,891Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5% U.S.: +7.4% |
-12.7%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38±1Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±6.7Highest 6% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.4Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Bellows Falls and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±0.8Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.7%±5.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bellows Falls and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34% U.S.: 35.7% |
27.5%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±0.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.2%±4.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
$56,086±$2kLowest 31% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
$195,600±$35kLowest 41% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
$1,038±$109Lowest 27% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,922 90% above U.S. |
$4,448Lowest 43% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
43.9%±16.8 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and Bellows Falls are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 11.2% U.S.: 12.5% |
25.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
50.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1938Lowest 42 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
20 minLowest 24% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.3Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
6.9%±5.3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Manchester 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 | #115 of 120 in NH | — | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | — | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Manchester Memorial High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 14.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 6 photos → | 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.