Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Hanover vs Hooksett vs New Boston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Hanover has the most expensive homes ($825k median).
Hooksett has the oldest population (median age 41.3).
New Boston has the most kids (27.2% under 18).
Hanover is a college town. 36.9% 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 | Hanover | Hooksett | New Boston |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,902Lowest |
11,685 |
15,057Highest |
6,165 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+14.8%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6 19% below NH |
28.7±5.1Lowest 34% below NH |
41.3±1.5Highest 5% below NH |
38.8±3.4 10% below NH |
| Hooksett and New Boston 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% |
14.4%±2.4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
27.2%±5.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
19.7%±2.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17%±4.3 NH: 20.1% |
| Hanover and Hooksett 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% |
88.2%Highest NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
44.4% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8 NH: 6% |
36.9%±2.4Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
3.6%±3Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$169,583±$36kHighest 71% above NH |
$117,962±$11kLowest 19% above NH |
$154,250±$25k 56% above NH |
| Hanover and New Boston 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 |
$824,900±$61kHighest 105% above NH |
$407,000±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$481,100±$59k 20% above NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217 about the NH average |
$2,253±$217Highest 51% above NH |
$1,661±$206 11% above NH |
$1,193±$111Lowest 20% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801 about the NH average |
$10,000+Highest at least 50% above NH |
$6,554Lowest about the NH average |
$8,181 23% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
66.4%±17.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
22.8%±20.5Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Hanover 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% |
5.6% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
6.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
73.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
88%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1976Lowest 3 yrs older than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1989Highest 10 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
20 minLowest 27% below NH |
27 min about the NH average |
36 minHighest 33% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
26.4%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
22.2%±6.5 NH: 16.8% |
| Hanover and New Boston 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 | — | #1 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #21 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Dresden School District · Hanover School District | Hooksett School District | New Boston School District |
| High school in town | — | Hanover High School | None in town | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
— | — |
| 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.