Compare towns
Weare vs Hooksett vs Gilford vs Strafford
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).
Strafford has the highest household income ($122k).
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 | Strafford |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 9,170 |
15,057Highest |
7,830 |
4,306Lowest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.5%Lowest NH: +4.6% |
+10.6%Highest NH: +4.6% |
+8% NH: +4.6% |
+6% NH: +4.6% |
| Median age | 45.6±4 5% above NH |
41.3±1.5Lowest 5% below NH |
48.2±3.9Highest 11% above NH |
46.3±2.1 7% above NH |
| Gilford and Strafford 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%±2.9Lowest NH: 18.2% |
20.6%±4.5 NH: 18.2% |
17.6%±3.5 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%±3.2Highest NH: 20.1% |
19.4%±4.1 NH: 20.1% |
| Gilford and Strafford 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%Lowest NH: 40.6% |
45.4%Highest NH: 40.6% |
40.2% NH: 40.6% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 4.3%±1.4 NH: 6% |
8.9%±1.6Highest NH: 6% |
2.3%±1.2Lowest NH: 6% |
5.4%±2.6 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 | $118,271±$17k 19% above NH |
$117,962±$11k 19% above NH |
$116,635±$11kLowest 18% above NH |
$122,105±$22kHighest 23% above NH |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $396,300±$26kLowest about the NH average |
$407,000±$26k about the NH average |
$456,500±$56kHighest 13% above NH |
$427,900±$29k 6% above NH |
| Gilford and Strafford 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 |
$1,635±$246 10% above NH |
| Hooksett and Strafford are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $6,272 6% below NH |
$6,554Highest about the NH average |
$4,868Lowest 27% below NH |
$6,086 9% below NH |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 62.2%±24.6 NH: 48.2% |
41.7%±16.4Lowest NH: 48.2% |
62.2%±8.5 NH: 48.2% |
76.3%±30.3Highest NH: 48.2% |
| Strafford and Weare are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 1.4%Lowest NH: 7.2% |
3.3% NH: 7.2% |
6.2% NH: 7.2% |
8%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% |
93.5%Highest NH: 72.8% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1986 7 yrs newer than NH |
1988Highest 9 yrs newer than NH |
1983Lowest 4 yrs newer than NH |
1985 6 yrs newer than NH |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 36 min 34% above NH |
27 min about the NH average |
22 minLowest 18% below NH |
36 minHighest 34% above NH |
| Work from home | 22.8%±4.9Highest NH: 16.8% |
13.4%±3.1Lowest NH: 16.8% |
16.9%±4.8 NH: 16.8% |
15.9%±5 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 | #73 of 120 in NH |
| School district | John Stark Regional School District · Weare School District | Hooksett School District | Gilford School District | Strafford School District |
| High school in town | John Stark Regional High School | None in town | Gilford High School | None in town |
| 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.