Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Durham vs Hooksett vs Sandown
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 most homeowners (82.9%).
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Sandown has the most people working from home (27.4%).
Durham is a college town. 55.1% 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.
| Measure | South Hooksett | Durham | Hooksett | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,902Lowest |
15,080Highest |
15,057 |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.4% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Hooksett and Sandown 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Sandown 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% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
34.1%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$483,400±$44k 20% above NH |
| Durham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$1,429±$143Lowest 4% below NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown and 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Sandown and Durham 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 | #30 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3 |
— | — |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.