Compare towns

South Hooksett vs Durham vs New Ipswich

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 highest household income ($130k).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.1).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
Durham is a college town. 70.2% of residents are enrolled in college, which pulls its median age, poverty rate and renter figures away from what a year-round family would see.

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 HooksettDurhamNew Ipswich
People
Population
5,902
10,681Highest
5,310Lowest
Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census
+8.7%Highest
NH: +4.6%
+7.8%
NH: +4.6%
+2.1%Lowest
NH: +4.6%
Median age
35.2±3.6
19% below NH
20.1±0.2Lowest
54% below NH
36.9±2.4Highest
15% below NH
New Ipswich and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Kids under 18
16.3%±3.9
NH: 18.2%
6.5%±2Lowest
NH: 18.2%
29.9%±5.7Highest
NH: 18.2%
Age 65+
13.5%±2.6Highest
NH: 20.1%
7.5%±1.4Lowest
NH: 20.1%
12.3%±3
NH: 20.1%
South Hooksett and New Ipswich 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%
75.4%Highest
NH: 40.6%
32.1%Lowest
NH: 40.6%
Enrolled in collegeshare of residents
14.3%±0.8
NH: 6%
70.2%±1.6Highest
NH: 6%
2.6%±1.4Lowest
NH: 6%
Cost of living
Household incomemedian
$130,000±$15kHighest
31% above NH
$112,070±$25k
13% above NH
$110,507±$9kLowest
12% above NH
South Hooksett and Durham 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
$498,000±$45kHighest
24% above NH
$392,400±$31kLowest
about the NH average
Durham and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Rentmedian gross, monthly
$1,471±$217Highest
about the NH average
$1,302±$211
13% below NH
$882±$469Lowest
41% below NH
South Hooksett and Durham 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
$10,000+Highest
at least 50% above NH
$5,647Lowest
15% below NH
Renters paying 30%+of income on rent
36.1%±25Lowest
NH: 48.2%
55.4%±19.2
NH: 48.2%
61.7%±41.5Highest
NH: 48.2%
New Ipswich and Durham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher.
Below poverty line
4%
NH: 7.2%
12.4%Highest
NH: 7.2%
1.4%Lowest
NH: 7.2%
Housing
Homeownersof occupied homes
82.9%Highest
NH: 72.8%
53.6%Lowest
NH: 72.8%
82.7%
NH: 72.8%
Typical home builtmedian year
1985
6 yrs newer than NH
1973Lowest
6 yrs older than NH
1986Highest
7 yrs newer than NH
Getting to work
Average commuteone way
26 min
about the NH average
17 minLowest
36% below NH
33 minHighest
22% above NH
Work from home
7.1%±2.4Lowest
NH: 16.8%
15.6%±3.3Highest
NH: 16.8%
12%±4.8
NH: 16.8%
Durham and New Ipswich 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 — #9 of 120 in NH #82 of 120 in NH
School district — — Mascenic Regional School District
High school in town — — Mascenic Regional High School
Students per teacherat that high school — —
11.7
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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.