Compare towns
Readfield vs Hooksett vs Pownal
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Readfield has the most affordable homes ($326k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Pownal has the most kids (24.2% under 18).
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 | Readfield | Hooksett | Pownal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 2,651 |
15,057Highest |
1,696Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | 0%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 48.1±7.6Highest 24% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
47.2±8.4 21% above U.S. |
| Readfield and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9 U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
24.2%±4.7Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Pownal and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 22.3%±4.5 U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
23.5%±2.6Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Pownal and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 48.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
49%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.3%±2Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
4.2%±1.9 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $86,504±$8kLowest 7% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$104,333±$14k 29% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Pownal are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $326,400±$20kLowest about the U.S. average |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$436,800±$32kHighest 31% above U.S. |
| Pownal and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,125±$844 20% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$981±$636Lowest 31% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Readfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,392Lowest 9% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$5,212 67% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 31.3%±100Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
78.9%±22.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Pownal and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 89.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
89.4% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1979 1 yr older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1971Lowest 9 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 30 min 12% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
30 minHighest 14% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 24.3%±14.9Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
23.9%±5.4 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Readfield and Pownal 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 | #20 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | RSU 38 | Hooksett School District | RSU 05 |
| High school in town | Maranacook Community High Sch | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.5 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.