Compare towns
South Berwick vs Hooksett vs Hampden
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Berwick has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Hampden has the most affordable homes ($301k 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 | South Berwick | Hooksett | Hampden |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 7,670Lowest |
15,057Highest |
7,896 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.4%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+6.2% U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 39±2.5Lowest about the U.S. average |
41.3±1.5Highest 6% above U.S. |
41±2.9 5% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 26.7%±6Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
25.8%±5.7 U.S.: 22% |
| South Berwick and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.8%±3Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.2%±3.6 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.8% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
45.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.2%±1.9Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.3%±2.3 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $99,572±$13kLowest 23% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$111,959±$13k 39% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Hampden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $428,300±$26kHighest 29% above U.S. |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$301,300±$38kLowest 9% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,726±$83Highest 22% above U.S. |
$1,661±$206 18% above U.S. |
$1,286±$317Lowest 9% below U.S. |
| South Berwick and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $4,956 59% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$3,694Lowest 18% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 53.5%±24.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
22.2%±15.1Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
| South Berwick and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 3.4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
7.5%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 78.3%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
85.7%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1982Lowest 2 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 27 min about the U.S. average |
27 minHighest about the U.S. average |
23 minLowest 14% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 17.6%±5.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
21.3%±5.5Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hampden and South 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 | #58 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #6 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 35/MSAD 35 | Hooksett School District | RSU 22 |
| High school in town | Marshwood High School | None in town | Hampden Academy |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 13.0Lowest |
— | 14.8Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.