Compare towns
Standish vs Hooksett vs Waterboro
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Standish has the youngest population (median age 40.5).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Waterboro has the most kids (22.5% 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 | Standish | Hooksett | Waterboro |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 10,662Highest |
5,876Lowest |
8,055 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.7% U.S.: +7.4% |
+27.4%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
+3.2%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 40.5±2.8Lowest 4% above U.S. |
42.6±2Highest 10% above U.S. |
42±3.1 8% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.4%±3.1 U.S.: 22% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest U.S.: 22% |
22.5%±4Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterboro and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 15.2%±2.3 U.S.: 17.2% |
20.7%±3.9Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
14.8%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Hooksett and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 36% U.S.: 35.7% |
41.4%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
24.2%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 11.6%±1.7Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
6.2%±3.7 U.S.: 6.4% |
4.7%±1.7Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Standish and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $104,593±$15kHighest 30% above U.S. |
$101,053±$25k 25% above U.S. |
$89,392±$16kLowest 11% above U.S. |
| Standish and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $336,000±$18k about the U.S. average |
$348,100±$32kHighest 5% above U.S. |
$297,000±$23kLowest 11% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Standish are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $983±$453Lowest 30% below U.S. |
$1,811±$283Highest 28% above U.S. |
$1,200±$461 15% below U.S. |
| Hooksett and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,005 4% below U.S. |
$4,960Highest 59% above U.S. |
$2,772Lowest 11% below U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.4%±22.3Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
46%±20.2Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
50.2%±12.5 U.S.: 51.1% |
| Standish and Waterboro are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
4%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
6% U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 91.2%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
72.5%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
90.1% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980Lowest same as U.S. |
1987Highest 7 yrs newer than U.S. |
1983 3 yrs newer than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 29 min 11% above U.S. |
29 minLowest 11% above U.S. |
35 minHighest 33% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 13.6%±3.8 U.S.: 15.1% |
14.4%±4.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
10%±3.9Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Hooksett and Standish 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 | #18 of 133 in ME | #30 of 120 in NH | #80 of 133 in ME |
| School district | RSU 06/MSAD 06 | — | RSU 57/MSAD 57 |
| High school in town | Bonny Eagle High School | — | Massabesic High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 12.5Lowest |
— | 13.5Highest |
| 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.