Compare towns
Newton vs Hooksett vs Gilford
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Newton has the highest household income ($138k).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
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 | Newton | Hooksett | Gilford |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,836Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,830 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +4.7%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 47.8±5.7 10% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
| Gilford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.1%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Gilford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 16%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $138,487±$29kHighest 40% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
| Newton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $459,500±$18kHighest 14% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$456,500±$56k 13% above NH |
| Newton and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,683±$96Highest 13% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
| Newton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,124Highest 22% above NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62%±41.8 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Gilford and Newton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.5%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 90.1% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 minHighest 13% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
| Work from home | 18.1%±5.2Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
| Newton and Gilford 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 | #70 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Sanborn Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Gilford School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Gilford High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.5 |
| 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.