Compare towns
Waltham vs Hooksett vs Panton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waltham has the oldest population (median age 60.8).
Hooksett has the highest household income ($118k).
Panton has the most kids (24.9% 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 | Waltham | Hooksett | Panton |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 452Lowest |
15,057Highest |
690 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | — | +10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-4.6%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 60.8±7.3Highest 56% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
42.7±3.8 10% above U.S. |
| Kids under 18 | 12.8%±7.4Lowest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
24.9%±5.3Highest U.S.: 22% |
| Panton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 45.4%±3.1Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
16.7%±2.9Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 39% U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
35.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 3.1%±2.1 U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
2.3%±1.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $97,500±$14k 21% above U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$86,667±$10kLowest 7% above U.S. |
| Hooksett and Waltham are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $329,700±$51kLowest about the U.S. average |
$407,000±$26k 22% above U.S. |
$438,000±$40kHighest 32% above U.S. |
| Panton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,096±$113Lowest 22% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,410±$130 about the U.S. average |
| Hooksett and Panton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,714Lowest 83% above U.S. |
$6,554 110% above U.S. |
$6,695Highest 115% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 29.2%±58.6Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4 U.S.: 51.1% |
61%±39Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Panton and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 5.3%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.2%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 86.3%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
83.7% U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 6 yrs newer than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1974Lowest 6 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 28 minHighest 5% above U.S. |
27 min about the U.S. average |
26 minLowest about the U.S. average |
| Work from home | 20.6%±5.7 U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
26.7%±8.6Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Panton and Waltham 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 | — | Hooksett School District | — |
| High school in town | — | None in town | — |
| 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.