Compare towns

South Hooksett vs Chester vs Hooksett

Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.

What stands out worked out from the figures below

South Hooksett has the youngest population (median age 35.2).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).

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.

MeasureSouth HooksettChesterHooksett
People
Population
5,902
5,300Lowest
15,057Highest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
+9.7%
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
35.2±3.6Lowest
19% below NH
47.2±3.8Highest
9% above NH
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.6%±3.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Age 65+
13.5%±2.6Lowest
NH: 20.1%
17.4%±4Highest
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
Chester and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
41.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.3%±0.8Highest
NH: 6%
4.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$130,000±$15k
31% above NH
$142,212±$19kHighest
44% above NH
$117,962±$11kLowest
19% above NH
Chester and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Home valuemedian, owner-occupied
$433,200±$40k
8% above NH
$552,300±$42kHighest
37% above NH
$407,000±$26kLowest
about the NH average
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,471±$217Lowest
about the NH average
—
$1,661±$206Highest
11% above NH
Hooksett and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Property taxmedian, yearly
$6,801
about the NH average
$8,464Highest
27% above NH
$6,554Lowest
about the NH average
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±25
NH: 48.2%
19%±72.7Lowest
NH: 48.2%
41.7%±16.4Highest
NH: 48.2%
Hooksett and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
3.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
NH: 72.8%
97.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985Lowest
6 yrs newer than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 minLowest
about the NH average
35 minHighest
31% above NH
27 min
about the NH average
Work from home
7.1%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.4%±5.1Highest
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
Chester 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 — #90 of 120 in NH #30 of 120 in NH
School district — Chester School District Hooksett School District
High school in town — None in town None in town
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.