Compare towns
Stark vs Hooksett vs Northumberland
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Stark has the oldest population (median age 58.8).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Northumberland has the most affordable homes ($120k median).
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 | Stark | Hooksett | Northumberland |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 419Lowest |
15,057Highest |
1,815 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | -14%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
-7.1% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 58.8±3.6Highest 36% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
45.7±6.2 6% above NH |
| Kids under 18 | 14.1%±6.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
16.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
| Hooksett and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 27.2%±3.6Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
24.4%±5.2 NH: 20.1% |
| Stark and Northumberland are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 17.5% NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
17.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.6%±4.7 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.7Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,750±$23k 28% below NH |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$40,268±$7kLowest 59% below NH |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $197,700±$34k 51% below NH |
$407,000±$26kHighest about the NH average |
$120,100±$15kLowest 70% below NH |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,018±$96Lowest 32% below NH |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,636Lowest 60% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$2,794 58% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 66.7%±100 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
74.7%±6.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Northumberland and Stark are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8.3% NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
23.1%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 92.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6% NH: 72.8% |
79.3%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1968 11 yrs older than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1960Lowest 19 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 34 minHighest 27% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
18 minLowest 33% below NH |
| Work from home | 13.9%±6.7Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
11.3%±6.6Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Stark and Hooksett 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 | — | #30 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | Stark School District | Hooksett School District | Northumberland School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Groveton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 8.6 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | 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.