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 grown the fastest since 2010 (+8.7%).
Durham has the most people working from home (19.4%).
New Ipswich has the most kids (29.9% under 18).
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 | New Ipswich |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902 |
15,080Highest |
5,310Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.8% NH: +4.6% |
+2.1%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
20.8±0.3Lowest 52% 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% |
10.3%±2.1Lowest NH: 18.2% |
29.9%±5.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
11.5%±1.6Lowest 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% |
55.1%±3.2Highest NH: 6% |
2.6%±1.4Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15kHighest 31% above NH |
$124,056±$21k 25% 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 |
$504,300±$41kHighest 25% 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 |
$1,429±$143 4% 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% |
66.4%±16Highest NH: 48.2% |
61.7%±41.5 NH: 48.2% |
| Durham and New Ipswich 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% |
1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9%Highest NH: 72.8% |
64.4%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
1986Highest 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
19 minLowest 27% below NH |
33 minHighest 22% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
19.4%±3.5Highest 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 | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Mascenic Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | Oyster River High School | Mascenic Regional High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 12.3Highest |
11.7Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 51 photos → | 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.