Compare towns
Rochester vs Hooksett vs Keene
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Rochester has the most kids (18.2% under 18).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Keene has the shortest commute (17 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 | Rochester | Hooksett | Keene |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 33,144Highest |
15,057Lowest |
22,939 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.2% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-1.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 43±1.8Highest about the NH average |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
37.6±2.3Lowest 13% below NH |
| Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.2%±1.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±1.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Rochester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.6%±1.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.5%±1.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Rochester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 27.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
13.8%±1.4Highest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $80,836±$3k 18% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$78,445±$8kLowest 21% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $279,100±$10k 31% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$252,500±$12kLowest 37% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,369±$72 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,342±$68Lowest 10% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,334Lowest 20% below NH |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$6,812Highest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 46.3%±7Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
44.5%±6.1 NH: 48.2% |
| Rochester and Keene are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 66% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Highest NH: 72.8% |
55.1%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1978 1 yr older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1961Lowest 18 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
17 minLowest 36% below NH |
| Work from home | 11.8%±2.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
15.6%±2.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Keene 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 | #98 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #81 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Rochester School District | Hooksett School District | Keene School District |
| High school in town | Spaulding High School | None in town | Keene High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.2Highest |
— | 12.3Lowest |
| 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.