Compare towns
Weare vs Hooksett vs Gilford vs Deering
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against New Hampshire.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Weare has the most people working from home (22.8%).
Hooksett has grown the fastest since 2010 (+10.6%).
Gilford has the shortest commute (22 min average).
Deering has the most affordable homes ($310k 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 | Weare | Hooksett | Gilford | Deering |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
15,057Highest |
7,830 |
1,938Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5% NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
-0.4%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.2±3.9 11% above NH |
48.8±5.7Highest 13% above NH |
| Deering and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 22.4%±4Highest NH: 18.2% |
17.4%±2.9 NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.3%±4.3Lowest NH: 18.2% |
| Weare and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 13.5%±3Lowest NH: 20.1% |
17.3%±2.4 NH: 20.1% |
21.8%±3.2 NH: 20.1% |
23.9%±1.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
| Deering and Gilford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 41.2% NH: 40.6% |
39.6% NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
31%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2 NH: 6% |
1.6%±1.1Lowest NH: 6% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $118,271±$17kHighest 19% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$116,635±$11k 18% above NH |
$101,250±$16kLowest about the NH average |
| Weare and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26k about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
$309,900±$27kLowest 23% below NH |
| Gilford and Hooksett are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,541±$214 3% above NH |
$1,661±$206Highest 11% above NH |
$1,150±$747Lowest 23% below NH |
$1,306±$116 12% below NH |
| Hooksett and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$6,223 7% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6Highest NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4 NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5Highest NH: 48.2% |
23.9%±27.6Lowest NH: 48.2% |
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
14.3%Highest NH: 7.2% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
80.6%Lowest NH: 72.8% |
93.1% NH: 72.8% |
87.7% NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983 4 yrs newer than NH |
1977Lowest 2 yrs older than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
40 minHighest 49% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1 NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
10%±2.7Lowest NH: 16.8% |
| Weare and Gilford 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 | #84 of 120 in NH | #30 of 120 in NH | #45 of 120 in NH | — |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hooksett School District | Gilford School District | — |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Gilford High School | — |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.4Lowest |
— | 11.5Highest |
— |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in Our Story | None yet | 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.