Compare towns
Meredith vs Sandown 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
Meredith has the oldest population (median age 55.5).
Sandown has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k 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 | Sandown | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 6,758 |
6,628Lowest |
15,057Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 55.5±3.7Highest 28% above NH |
40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 12.6%±3.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Hooksett 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% |
14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 45.9%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 2.9%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $87,019±$19kLowest 12% below NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $480,100±$48k 19% above NH |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Sandown and Meredith 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 |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,006Lowest 25% below NH |
$8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 48.5%±9.2 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown 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% |
10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 75.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 23.7%±4.9 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Meredith 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 | #62 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Inter-Lakes Cooperative School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett 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.