Compare towns
Sandown vs Hooksett vs Atkinson vs Chester
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Hooksett has the most affordable homes ($407k median).
Atkinson has the oldest population (median age 57.1).
Chester has the most homeowners (97.7%).
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 | Sandown | Hooksett | Atkinson | Chester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 6,628 |
15,057Highest |
7,267 |
5,300Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +9.4% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 40.8±3.7Lowest 6% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
57.1±2.8Highest 32% above NH |
47.2±3.8 9% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
14.1%±3.8Lowest NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7 NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 14.2%±4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
27.4%±5.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
42.7%Highest NH: 40.6% |
41.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.1%±2.6 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
5.8%±4 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| 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 | $135,040±$25k 36% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$146,380±$32kHighest 48% above NH |
$142,212±$19k 44% above NH |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$555,200±$65kHighest 38% above NH |
$552,300±$42k 37% above NH |
| Atkinson and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,140±$32Lowest 24% below NH |
— |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,801Highest 32% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$6,918 4% above NH |
$8,464 27% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
66.5%±39.1Highest NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Atkinson and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 10.8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
1.8%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.5% NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
92.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1980Lowest 1 yr newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 33 min 25% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
28 min 6% above NH |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
| Work from home | 27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
21.1%±6.3 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Atkinson 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 | #71 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #32 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Timberlane Regional School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District | Chester School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.