Compare towns
Mason vs Manchester vs Hooksett
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Mason has the most kids (28.8% under 18).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
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 | Mason | Manchester | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 1,451Lowest |
115,643Highest |
5,876 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43.7±2.3Highest about the NH average |
38±1Lowest 12% below NH |
42.6±2 about the NH average |
| Mason and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 28.8%±6.3Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 15.6%±2.1 NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Mason are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39.5% NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.8%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7Highest NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7 NH: 6% |
| Manchester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $111,090±$3kHighest 12% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$101,053±$25k about the NH average |
| Mason and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $384,000±$21kHighest 5% below NH |
$365,600±$7k 9% below NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
| Mason and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $2,530±$852Highest 70% above NH |
$1,564±$37Lowest 5% above NH |
$1,811±$283 21% above NH |
| Mason and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,049Highest 6% above NH |
$5,922 11% below NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 87.2%±42.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Mason and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.7% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
72.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1987 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 41 minHighest 53% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
29 min 9% above NH |
| Work from home | 20.7%±4.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
| Mason 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 | Mason School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | — |
| High school in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 6 photos → | 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.