Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Hooksett vs Chester vs Manchester
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 youngest population (median age 35.2).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Chester has the most expensive homes ($552k median).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
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 | Hooksett | Chester | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,902 |
15,057 |
5,300Lowest |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+9.7% NH: +4.6% |
+5.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
41.3±1.5 5% below NH |
47.2±3.8Highest 9% above NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
19.6%±3.7Highest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
| Chester and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
17.4%±4Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
| Chester 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% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
41.1%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6 NH: 6% |
4.4%±2.1Lowest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$142,212±$19kHighest 44% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
| Chester 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 |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$552,300±$42kHighest 37% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— | $1,564±$37 5% above NH |
| Hooksett and Manchester 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 |
$6,554 about the NH average |
$8,464Highest 27% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
19%±72.7Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester 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% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
97.7%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1988 9 yrs newer than NH |
1991Highest 12 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
27 min about the NH average |
35 minHighest 31% above NH |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.4%±5.1Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
| Chester and Manchester 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | #90 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Hooksett School District | Chester School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | — | 14.3 |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.