Compare towns

South Hooksett vs Chester vs Hooksett vs Rindge

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 shortest commute (26 min average).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Rindge has the most people working from home (18.1%).

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 HooksettChesterHooksettRindge
People
Population
5,902
5,300Lowest
15,057Highest
6,497
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%
NH: +4.6%
+9.7%
NH: +4.6%
+10.6%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7.7%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
35.2±3.6
19% below NH
47.2±3.8Highest
9% above NH
41.3±1.5
5% below NH
35±3.9Lowest
19% below NH
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9Lowest
NH: 18.2%
19.6%±3.7
NH: 18.2%
17.4%±2.9
NH: 18.2%
21.2%±4.4Highest
NH: 18.2%
Rindge and Chester 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%±4
NH: 20.1%
17.3%±2.4
NH: 20.1%
18%±3.7Highest
NH: 20.1%
Rindge and Chester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+
37.9%
NH: 40.6%
41.1%Highest
NH: 40.6%
39.6%
NH: 40.6%
31.8%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.3%±0.8
NH: 6%
4.4%±2.1Lowest
NH: 6%
8.9%±1.6
NH: 6%
18.3%±2.5Highest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$130,000±$15k
31% above NH
$142,212±$19kHighest
44% above NH
$117,962±$11k
19% above NH
$102,679±$20kLowest
4% 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
$415,400±$35k
3% above NH
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,471±$217
about the NH average
—
$1,661±$206Highest
11% above NH
$1,123±$60Lowest
25% below 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
$6,636
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%
29.1%±19.7
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%
NH: 7.2%
4%
NH: 7.2%
3.3%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
9.6%Highest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%
NH: 72.8%
97.7%Highest
NH: 72.8%
80.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
84.8%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1991Highest
12 yrs newer than NH
1988
9 yrs newer than NH
1984Lowest
5 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
28 min
4% above NH
Work from home
7.1%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
16.4%±5.1
NH: 16.8%
13.4%±3.1
NH: 16.8%
18.1%±4.9Highest
NH: 16.8%
Rindge and Chester 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 #50 of 120 in NH
School district — Chester School District Hooksett School District Jaffrey-Rindge Cooperative School District
High school 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.