Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Jay vs Sandown
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
South Hooksett has the shortest commute (26 min average).
Jay has the most affordable homes ($234k median).
Sandown has the most kids (22.6% under 18).
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 | Jay | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902 |
471Lowest |
6,628Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
+9.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
52.1±10.5Highest 34% above U.S. |
40.8±3.7 5% above U.S. |
| Jay 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 U.S.: 22% |
14.2%±7.3Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.6%±6.5Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±6.3Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.2%±4 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Jay 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
45.1%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
1.9%±2.5Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.1%±2.6 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 61% above U.S. |
$74,792±$25kLowest 7% below U.S. |
$135,040±$25kHighest 67% above U.S. |
| 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 30% above U.S. |
$234,200±$45kLowest 30% below U.S. |
$483,400±$44kHighest 45% above U.S. |
| Sandown 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±$217Lowest 4% above U.S. |
— | $1,893±$721Highest 34% above U.S. |
| Sandown and South Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801 118% above U.S. |
$3,588Lowest 15% above U.S. |
$8,801Highest 182% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
40%±100 U.S.: 51.1% |
64.1%±48.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Sandown and Jay are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
8.7% U.S.: 12.5% |
10.8%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
97%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
82.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Lowest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
2001Highest 21 yrs newer than U.S. |
1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
40 minHighest 50% above U.S. |
33 min 27% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
27.3%±13.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
27.4%±13.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Sandown and Jay 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 | — | — | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Jay/Westfield Joint Elementary School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | None in town |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
U.S. 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.