Compare towns
Merrimack vs Hanover 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
Merrimack has the most kids (22% under 18).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.
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 | Merrimack | Hanover | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 28,164Highest |
11,685Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 41.5±2.2Highest 4% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 22%±2.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Merrimack and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16.8%±1.8Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 50.2% NH: 40.6% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $127,219±$16k 28% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Hanover and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $458,600±$15k 14% above NH |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,932±$147 30% above NH |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206Lowest 11% above NH |
| Hanover and Merrimack are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,345 10% above NH |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 34.9%±9.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
5.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 88.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 21%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and Merrimack 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 | #58 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Merrimack School District | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Merrimack High School | Hanover High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Highest |
10.7Lowest |
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| 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.