Compare towns
Milford vs Somersworth 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
Milford has the most kids (23.7% under 18).
Somersworth has the most affordable homes ($318k median).
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($843k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hanover is a college town. 49.8% 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 | Milford | Somersworth | Hanover | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 16,337Highest |
12,111 |
8,479Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6.7% NH: +4.6% |
+0.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.1% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 36.8±2.5 15% below NH |
38.4±2.7 11% below NH |
21.8±0.3Lowest 50% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 23.7%±3.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
19.9%±4 NH: 18.2% |
9.8%±2.2Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Milford and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 15.1%±1.9 NH: 20.1% |
14%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.6%±3.2Highest 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+ | 37.2% NH: 40.6% |
31.4%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
89.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.3Lowest NH: 6% |
4.9%±2 NH: 6% |
49.8%±2.5Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $97,768±$14k about the NH average |
$74,504±$13kLowest 25% below NH |
$153,281±$26kHighest 55% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
| Hanover and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $398,800±$20k about the NH average |
$318,400±$23kLowest 21% below NH |
$842,600±$97kHighest 109% above NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,661±$126 11% above NH |
$1,477±$134Lowest about the NH average |
$2,254±$249Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $7,522 13% above NH |
$6,805 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 49.6%±15.8 NH: 48.2% |
56.3%±14.7 NH: 48.2% |
72%±17.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover and Somersworth are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 3.9% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
8% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 64.9% NH: 72.8% |
57.8%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
62.4% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982 3 yrs newer than NH |
1967Lowest 12 yrs older than NH |
1974 5 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 27 minHighest about the NH average |
26 min 3% below NH |
19 minLowest 29% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
| Work from home | 15.6%±3.3 NH: 16.8% |
11.7%±3.5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.7%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #55 of 120 in NH | #117 of 120 in NH | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Milford School District | Somersworth School District | — | Hooksett School District |
| High school in town | Milford High School | Somersworth High School | — | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 10.7Lowest |
11.4Highest |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.