Compare towns
Manchester vs White River Junction 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 most kids (18% under 18).
White River Junction has the shortest commute (15 min average).
Hooksett has the most homeowners (80.6%).
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 | White River Junction | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 115,643Highest |
3,364Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.8%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 38±1 about the U.S. average |
33.7±3.2Lowest 13% below U.S. |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 18%±1Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.1%±5Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.5%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
12.5%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
38.9% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
1.2%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $81,007±$2k about the U.S. average |
$77,168±$4kLowest 4% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $365,600±$7k 10% above U.S. |
$278,800±$78kLowest 16% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
$1,222±$216Lowest 14% 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. |
$5,651Lowest 81% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 50%±3.6Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
42.9%±17.3 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Manchester and White River Junction 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% |
12.1%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 48.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
43.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
1963Lowest 17 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 24 min 9% below U.S. |
15 minLowest 42% below U.S. |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
15.7%±5.8Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| White River Junction and Manchester 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.