Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Lee vs Manchester vs Sandown
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).
Lee has the most homeowners (95.8%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Sandown has grown the fastest since 2010 (+9.4%).
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 | Lee | Manchester | Sandown |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,902 |
4,576Lowest |
115,643Highest |
6,628 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+9.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
38±1 12% below NH |
40.8±3.7 6% below NH |
| Lee and Sandown are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6 NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
22.6%±6.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Sandown and Lee 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% |
22.6%±6.8Highest NH: 20.1% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
14.2%±4 NH: 20.1% |
| Lee and Manchester 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% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
34.1% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
5.1%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$131,579±$54k 33% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$135,040±$25kHighest 36% above NH |
| Sandown and Lee 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 |
$480,600±$61k 19% above NH |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$483,400±$44kHighest 20% above NH |
| Sandown and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217Lowest about the NH average |
— | $1,564±$37 5% above NH |
$1,893±$721Highest 27% above NH |
| Sandown 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 |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$8,801 32% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6 NH: 48.2% |
64.1%±48.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Sandown and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
10.8% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
82.5% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
28 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
33 minHighest 25% above NH |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.4%±13.4 NH: 16.8% |
| Lee and Sandown 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 | — | #3 of 120 in NH | #115 of 120 in NH | #71 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Oyster River Coop School District | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Timberlane Regional School District |
| High school in town | — | None in town | Manchester Memorial High School | None in town |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 14.3 |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 10 photos → | 6 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.