Compare towns
South Hooksett vs Needham vs Manchester
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 youngest population (median age 35.2).
Needham has the most expensive homes ($1189k 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 | Needham | Manchester |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,902Lowest |
32,459 |
115,643Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +8.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+11.1%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+5.5%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 35.2±3.6Lowest 10% below U.S. |
43.1±1.6Highest 11% above U.S. |
38±1 about the U.S. average |
| Kids under 18 | 16.3%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 22% |
27.5%±2.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
18%±1 U.S.: 22% |
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±2.6Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.7%±1.7Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
15.5%±0.8 U.S.: 17.2% |
| Needham 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% U.S.: 35.7% |
81.9%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
34%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 14.3%±0.8Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
5.4%±1.1Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.4%±0.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $130,000±$15k 61% above U.S. |
$214,308±$13kHighest 165% above U.S. |
$81,007±$2kLowest about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $433,200±$40k 30% above U.S. |
$1,188,500±$43kHighest 257% above U.S. |
$365,600±$7kLowest 10% above U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,471±$217Lowest 4% above U.S. |
$2,409±$183Highest 70% above U.S. |
$1,564±$37 11% above U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,801 118% above U.S. |
$10,000+Highest at least 221% above U.S. |
$5,922Lowest 90% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 36.1%±25Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
55.9%±8.5Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
50%±3.6 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Needham and Manchester are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.7%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
11.2%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 82.9% U.S.: 65.2% |
83.1%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
48.7%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985Highest 5 yrs newer than U.S. |
1965Lowest 15 yrs older than U.S. |
1966 14 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 26 min about the U.S. average |
28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
24 minLowest 9% below U.S. |
| Work from home | 7.1%±2.4Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
32.4%±2.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
14.1%±1.3 U.S.: 15.1% |
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | — | #19 of 282 in MA | #115 of 120 in NH |
| School district | — | Needham | Spark Academy of Advanced Technologies · Manchester School District |
| High school in town | — | Needham High | Manchester Memorial High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 11.9Lowest |
14.3Highest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 6 photos → |
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.