Compare towns

Rochester vs Hooksett vs Atkinson vs Berwick

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..

What stands out worked out from the figures below

Rochester has the most affordable homes ($279k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Atkinson has the most expensive homes ($555k median).
Berwick has the most kids (22.7% 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.

MeasureRochesterHooksettAtkinsonBerwick
People
Population
33,144Highest
15,057
7,267Lowest
8,175
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+9.2%
U.S.: +7.4%
+10.6%Highest
U.S.: +7.4%
+5%Lowest
U.S.: +7.4%
+9.7%
U.S.: +7.4%
Median age
43±1.8
11% above U.S.
41.3±1.5
6% above U.S.
57.1±2.8Highest
47% above U.S.
40.7±2.9Lowest
5% above U.S.
Kids under 18
18.2%±1.7
U.S.: 22%
17.4%±2.9
U.S.: 22%
14.1%±3.8Lowest
U.S.: 22%
22.7%±4.4Highest
U.S.: 22%
Berwick and Rochester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
19.6%±1.9
U.S.: 17.2%
17.3%±2.4
U.S.: 17.2%
27.4%±5.2Highest
U.S.: 17.2%
17.2%±4.1Lowest
U.S.: 17.2%
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
27.1%Lowest
U.S.: 35.7%
39.6%
U.S.: 35.7%
42.7%Highest
U.S.: 35.7%
35%
U.S.: 35.7%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
4.3%±1
U.S.: 6.4%
8.9%±1.6Highest
U.S.: 6.4%
5.8%±4
U.S.: 6.4%
3.7%±1.7Lowest
U.S.: 6.4%
Hooksett and Atkinson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$80,836±$3kLowest
about the U.S. average
$117,962±$11k
46% above U.S.
$146,380±$32kHighest
81% above U.S.
$94,771±$24k
17% above U.S.
Atkinson and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$279,100±$10kLowest
16% below U.S.
$407,000±$26k
22% above U.S.
$555,200±$65kHighest
67% above U.S.
$369,100±$19k
11% above U.S.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,369±$72
3% below U.S.
$1,661±$206Highest
18% above U.S.
$1,140±$32Lowest
19% below U.S.
$1,452±$430
about the U.S. average
Hooksett and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$5,334
71% above U.S.
$6,554
110% above U.S.
$6,918Highest
122% above U.S.
$4,436Lowest
42% above U.S.
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
46.3%±7
U.S.: 51.1%
41.7%±16.4Lowest
U.S.: 51.1%
66.5%±39.1Highest
U.S.: 51.1%
50.6%±46
U.S.: 51.1%
Atkinson and Berwick are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
8.3%Highest
U.S.: 12.5%
3.3%
U.S.: 12.5%
1.8%Lowest
U.S.: 12.5%
4.2%
U.S.: 12.5%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
66%Lowest
U.S.: 65.2%
80.6%
U.S.: 65.2%
92.6%Highest
U.S.: 65.2%
87.4%
U.S.: 65.2%
Typical home builtmedian year
1978Lowest
2 yrs older than U.S.
1988
8 yrs newer than U.S.
1980
same as U.S.
1989Highest
9 yrs newer than U.S.
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the U.S. average
27 min
about the U.S. average
28 min
7% above U.S.
30 minHighest
12% above U.S.
Work from home
11.8%±2.1Lowest
U.S.: 15.1%
13.4%±3.1
U.S.: 15.1%
21.1%±6.3Highest
U.S.: 15.1%
20.2%±7.6
U.S.: 15.1%
Atkinson and Berwick 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 #98 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH #32 of 120 in NH #101 of 133 in ME
School district Rochester School District Hooksett School District Timberlane Regional School District RSU 60/MSAD 60
High school in town Spaulding High School None in town None in town None in town
Students per teacherat that high school
13.2
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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.