Compare towns
Wakefield vs Hooksett vs Alton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Wakefield has the most affordable homes ($323k median).
Hooksett has the shortest commute (27 min average).
Alton has grown the fastest since 2010 (+12.3%).
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 | Wakefield | Hooksett | Alton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 5,405Lowest |
15,057Highest |
5,994 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +2.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6% NH: +4.6% |
+12.3%Highest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 49.4±4.1 14% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
53.7±3.2Highest 24% above NH |
| Alton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 18.7%±3.9Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
13.4%±4Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Wakefield and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 18.8%±4.7 NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4Lowest NH: 20.1% |
25.1%±4.5Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Alton and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 26.2%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
39.6%Highest NH: 40.6% |
35.8% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 1.4%±1.1 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
0.8%±0.8Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $100,976±$11kLowest about the NH average |
$117,962±$11kHighest 19% above NH |
$113,715±$19k 15% above NH |
| Hooksett and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $322,800±$43kLowest 20% below NH |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$430,400±$37kHighest 7% above NH |
| Alton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,375±$434Lowest 8% below NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
— |
| Hooksett and Wakefield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $2,954Lowest 56% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,183 37% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±82.9Lowest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Highest NH: 48.2% |
31.7%±27.7 NH: 48.2% |
| Hooksett and Alton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 7.2%Highest NH: 7.2% |
3.3%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
4.1% NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 96.8%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1980 1 yr newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1974Lowest 5 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 36 minHighest 34% above NH |
27 minLowest about the NH average |
33 min 24% above NH |
| Work from home | 15.1%±9.3Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
13.1%±5.2Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Wakefield 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 | #118 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #72 of 120 in NH |
| School district | Wakefield School District | Hooksett School District | Prospect Mountain JMA School District · Alton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | None in town | Prospect Mountain High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | — | 11.1 |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in Our Story | 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.