Compare towns
Meredith vs Hooksett vs Alstead
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Meredith has the most people working from home (23.7%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Alstead has the most affordable homes ($272k median).
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 | Meredith | Hooksett | Alstead |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
15,057Highest |
1,551Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-3.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7 28% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
56±3.3Highest 29% above NH |
| Alstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3 NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
12.3%±3.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 34.2%±5Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
27.8%±4.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Meredith and Alstead are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
28.3%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19k 12% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$64,526±$11kLowest 35% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48kHighest 19% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$271,600±$37kLowest 33% below NH |
| Meredith and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,149±$304Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,322 20% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
72.1%±22.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Alstead and Meredith are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.7% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
8.9%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
76% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975 4 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1973Lowest 6 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
32 minHighest 19% above NH |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
12.1%±5.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #62 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Hooksett School District | Fall Mountain Regional School District |
| High school in town | Inter-Lakes High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.1 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.