Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Durham vs Madbury 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
Durham has the youngest population (median age 20.8).
Madbury has the most kids (29% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
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 | Madbury | Hooksett |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,902 |
15,080Highest |
2,203Lowest |
15,057 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.8%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+8.3% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% below NH |
37.7±2.1 13% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
| Hooksett and Madbury 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% |
29%±5.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
14.3%±2.6 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Madbury 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% |
75.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
52.6% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
3.4%±1.8Lowest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% above NH |
$148,365±$30kHighest 50% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
| Madbury 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 |
$476,900±$31k 18% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
| Durham and Madbury 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 |
$1,574±$759 6% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
| Hooksett and Madbury 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 |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
16.7%±15.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and 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% |
15.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4.9% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1984 5 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
25 min 5% below NH |
27 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14%±3.6 NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
| Durham and Madbury 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 |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Oyster River Coop School District | Hooksett 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.