Compare towns
Waterville vs Hooksett vs Benson
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against the U.S..
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Waterville has the most kids (20.4% under 18).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Benson has the most people working from home (18.6%).
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 | Waterville | Hooksett | Benson |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 680Lowest |
15,057Highest |
784 |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +1.9% U.S.: +7.4% |
+10.6%Highest U.S.: +7.4% |
-7.8%Lowest U.S.: +7.4% |
| Median age | 49.1±8.2 26% above U.S. |
41.3±1.5Lowest 6% above U.S. |
51.9±9.4Highest 33% above U.S. |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 20.4%±8.2Highest U.S.: 22% |
17.4%±2.9 U.S.: 22% |
16.5%±5.2Lowest U.S.: 22% |
| Waterville and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 14.4%±3.5Lowest U.S.: 17.2% |
17.3%±2.4 U.S.: 17.2% |
26.9%±4.2Highest U.S.: 17.2% |
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 32.1%Lowest U.S.: 35.7% |
39.6%Highest U.S.: 35.7% |
32.6% U.S.: 35.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 5.3%±3.3Lowest U.S.: 6.4% |
8.9%±1.6Highest U.S.: 6.4% |
7%±5.8 U.S.: 6.4% |
| Hooksett and Benson are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $71,250±$27kLowest 12% below U.S. |
$117,962±$11kHighest 46% above U.S. |
$78,625±$8k about the U.S. average |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $236,300±$15kLowest 29% below U.S. |
$407,000±$26kHighest 22% above U.S. |
$242,000±$26k 27% below U.S. |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,110±$93Lowest 21% below U.S. |
$1,661±$206Highest 18% above U.S. |
$1,113±$170 21% below U.S. |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $3,957Lowest 27% above U.S. |
$6,554Highest 110% above U.S. |
$4,125 32% above U.S. |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 44.6%±27.2 U.S.: 51.1% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest U.S.: 51.1% |
53.4%±35.2Highest U.S.: 51.1% |
| Benson and Waterville are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 4.9% U.S.: 12.5% |
3.3%Lowest U.S.: 12.5% |
5.4%Highest U.S.: 12.5% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 79.9%Lowest U.S.: 65.2% |
80.6% U.S.: 65.2% |
80.9%Highest U.S.: 65.2% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1972Lowest 8 yrs older than U.S. |
1988Highest 8 yrs newer than U.S. |
1975 5 yrs older than U.S. |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 38 minHighest 42% above U.S. |
27 minLowest about the U.S. average |
32 min 20% above U.S. |
| Work from home | 8.5%±3Lowest U.S.: 15.1% |
13.4%±3.1 U.S.: 15.1% |
18.6%±5.4Highest U.S.: 15.1% |
| Benson 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 | Lamoille North Modified Union School District #058A | Hooksett School District | Slate Valley Unified Union School District #62 |
| High school in town | None in town | None 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.