Compare towns
Strafford vs Hooksett vs Gilmanton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Strafford has the most expensive homes ($428k median).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+27.4%).
Gilmanton has the most homeowners (99.2%).
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 | Strafford | Hooksett | Gilmanton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 4,306 |
5,876Highest |
4,026Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +6% NH: +4.6% |
+27.4%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+4.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 46.3±2.1Highest 7% above NH |
42.6±2Lowest about the NH average |
45±4.4 4% above NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 17.6%±3.5Highest NH: 18.2% |
14.7%±3.6Lowest NH: 18.2% |
17.5%±6.4 NH: 18.2% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
20.7%±3.9Highest NH: 20.1% |
17.2%±4.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40.2% NH: 40.6% |
41.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
37.9%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.4%±2.6 NH: 6% |
6.2%±3.7Highest NH: 6% |
4.2%±2.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
$101,053±$25kLowest about the NH average |
$117,088±$9k 18% above NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $427,900±$29kHighest 6% above NH |
$348,100±$32kLowest 14% below NH |
$363,700±$42k 10% below NH |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,635±$246 10% above NH |
$1,811±$283Highest 21% above NH |
$1,125±$421Lowest 25% below NH |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,086 9% below NH |
$4,960Lowest 26% below NH |
$6,235Highest 6% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
46%±20.2Lowest NH: 48.2% |
57.1%±100 NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Gilmanton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 8%Highest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5% NH: 72.8% |
72.5%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
99.2%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
1987Highest 8 yrs newer than NH |
1981Lowest 2 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
29 minLowest 9% above NH |
33 min 23% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.9%±5Highest NH: 16.8% |
14.4%±4.6 NH: 16.8% |
8.3%±5Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Strafford 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 | #73 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #25 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Strafford School District | — | Gilmanton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | — | None in town |
| 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.