Compare towns
Northfield vs Hooksett vs Canaan
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Northfield has the most kids (20.3% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Canaan has the most affordable homes ($254k 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 | Northfield | Hooksett | Canaan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,971 |
15,057Highest |
3,811Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +0.9% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-2.9%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 42.6±5.1 about the NH average |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
44.4±3.7Highest about the NH average |
| Canaan and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±4.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±4.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Northfield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±3.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
19.1%±4.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Canaan and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 23.7%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
28.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.5Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
7%±2.5 NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Canaan are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $92,917±$15k 6% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$81,583±$6kLowest 18% below NH |
| Hooksett and Northfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $288,500±$33k 28% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$254,000±$26kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,076±$182Lowest 28% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,140±$90 24% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,097Lowest 24% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$5,985 10% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 24.1%±14.1Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
74.4%±25.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Canaan and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.1% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
13.6%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 71.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
77.3% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 same as NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1975Lowest 4 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest 4% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
30 minHighest 12% above NH |
| Work from home | 6.9%±3.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
14.9%±6Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Canaan and Hooksett 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 | #109 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #83 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Winnisquam Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Mascoma Valley Regional School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Mascoma Valley Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 10.3 |
| 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.