Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Manchester vs Lee
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%).
Manchester has the most renters (51.3% rent).
Lee has the most people working from home (27.6%).
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 | Manchester | Lee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902 |
115,643Highest |
4,576Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+5.5% NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 19% below NH |
38±1 12% below NH |
42.9±1.9Highest about the NH average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
18%±1 NH: 18.2% |
21.9%±5.6Highest NH: 18.2% |
| Lee 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% |
15.5%±0.8 NH: 20.1% |
22.6%±6.8Highest 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% |
34%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
50.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest NH: 6% |
6.4%±0.7 NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 31% above NH |
$81,007±$2kLowest 18% below NH |
$131,579±$54kHighest 33% above NH |
| Lee 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 |
$365,600±$7kLowest 9% below NH |
$480,600±$61kHighest 19% above NH |
| Lee 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 about the NH average |
$1,564±$37Highest 5% above NH |
— |
| Manchester 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 about the NH average |
$5,922Lowest 11% below NH |
$9,661Highest 45% above NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest NH: 48.2% |
50%±3.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
38.3%±53.3 NH: 48.2% |
| Manchester and Lee are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% NH: 7.2% |
11.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
2.6%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% NH: 72.8% |
48.7%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
95.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1966Lowest 13 yrs older than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the NH average |
24 minLowest 10% below NH |
28 minHighest about the NH average |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest NH: 16.8% |
14.1%±1.3 NH: 16.8% |
27.6%±8.8Highest NH: 16.8% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #115 of 120 in NH | #3 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District | Oyster River Coop School District |
| High school 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 | 6 photos → | 10 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.